Tag: Story

Xander Chase and The Unicorn Code – By: Carrie Weston – Review

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The Book:

Lilly Honey Star is a 15-year-old like no other; she is the sole survivor of a mass murder and is suspected of being the half-mad murderess. Detective Stacy has her doubts about Lilly’s guilt, and when a stranger starts asking bizarre questions, she—along with Lilly—is pulled into the core of the case, which is bigger and more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.

Xander Chase, the angel of death and judiciary of spirits, is on the case. Desperate to make his father, Death himself, proud, Xander must unravel the perilous lies and deceit that’s spread through the realms of sinister creatures, before the murderer’s eye turns on him.

The Author:

A bit about the lady behind the wings. Carrie is a divorcee in her early 30s with a young son and crazy dog. She has completed an Open Study College, fiction writing level 3 course. Since she was a little girl, she dreamt of becoming a fully fledged authoress. Carrie loves to write fantasy fiction for young adults and hopes that the wings of her dreams will take flight with this, her debut novel: Xander Chase and the Unicorn Code.

This book was a treat, wrapped up and presented perfectly. The story is so intriguing from page one, that it’s nearly impossible to put down. The mystery and suspense are played out just right. This book deserves far more attention then it gets.

Every single character in this novel was well written, placed perfectly, and enjoyable. I can’t even attempt to chose a favorite because they are all seriously fantastic. It’s so great to watch these characters grow and become their true selfs.

I loved the detective aspect, mixed in with the supernatural aspect. You seen the world from a “human” prospective, and from a few different creatures throughout the realms. It all mixed very well and came together in the end perfectly.

5 stars for this morsel!!

I couldn’t stop reading, it was like I was there, waiting to see what would happen next. I really hope the author has a sequel planned, because I am already itching to continue this story.

Great Job Carrie!!!

—Pixie

Duckett and Dyer: Dicks for Hire – By: G. M. Nair – Review

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The Book:

Michael Duckett is fed up with his life. His job is a drag, and his roommate and best friend of fifteen years, Stephanie Dyer, is only making him more anxious with her lazy irresponsibility. Things continue to escalate when they face the threat of imminent eviction from their palatial 5th floor walk-up and find that someone has been plastering ads all over the city for their Detective Agency.

The only problem is: He and Stephanie don’t have one of those.

Despite their baffling levels of incompetence, Stephanie eagerly pursues this crazy scheme and drags Michael, kicking and screaming, into the fray only to find that they are way out of their depth. They stumble upon a web of missing people that are curiously linked to a sexually audacious theoretical physicist and his experiments with the fabric of space-time. And unless Michael and Stephanie can put their personal issues aside and fix the multi-verse, the concept of existence itself may, ironically, no longer exist.

Review

See What “People” Are “Saying”:


“Who are you? How did you get into my office?” – Neil Gaiman, if asked about this book, probably


“I can’t stop laughing!” – Victim of Papuan Laughing Sickness (Deceased)


“Duckett & Dyer has a tremendous energy to it. When released, it will warm your body and perhaps even your soul.” – International Journal of Burning Things In A Fireplace


“A long written or printed literary composition.” – Webster’s Dictionary Definition of ‘book‘


“Duckett & Dyer is the funniest thing I’ve ever read.” – A woman who has never read anything before

The Author:

G.M. Nair is a crazy person who should never be taken seriously. Despite possessing both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering and a job as an Aviation and Aerospace Consultant, he writes comedy for the stage and screen, and maintains the blog MakeMomMarvel.Com. Now he is making the leap into the highly un-lucrative field of independent book publishing.

Duckett & Dyer: Dicks For Hire is his first novel, and in a world with a fair and loving god, it would be his last. Alas, he tends to continue.

G.M. Nair lives in New York City and in a constant state of delusion.

https://ds-df.com

Duckett and Dyer find out about their PI business in an ad placed in the newspaper, then it’s everywhere. Dyer being the more carefree loves the idea, Duckett not so much. He can’t stop asking himself who put out the ads and why? Was it a trap?

Following a lead into a missing persons case, the detective business takes Dyer and Duckett to places they never thought they would go, and beyond.

The adventure that the characters go through is comedic gold. You can feel the Authors sense of humor dripping from the pages. I was laughing so much I had to re read some paragraphs.

On top of being hilarious, this book has so many mysteries, it hooks you immediately. The story is very well written, every small detail is put in for a reason. Then at the end it’s tied up into a nice little bow, and the climax is worth it.

The characters are amazing. Poor Michael being constantly dragged into unwanted adventures by his carefree friend Stephanie. They are both relatable in so many ways. The friendship is bitter sweet, but lovely at the same time.

I couldn’t put this book down, I finished it in one sitting. The book is so entertaining time just flies by as you read it. I wish I knew these characters in real life.

5 Stars!!

Great Job G. M!

—Pixie

Dream Girl – By: S. J. Lomas – Review

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Book:

From the day Gabriel starts working with Christine at the library, he turns her life upside-down with sizzling chemistry, bizarre stories, and incredible dreams. Dreams so vivid they feel like real life.  

Christine’s friends think she’s falling for Gabriel fast but they don’t know about the secret life Gabriel and Christine are living at night. Who would believe her if she told? As the dreams become more dangerous, it’s clear they’re being orchestrated by someone. But who? And more importantly, why? 

As Christine struggles to help Gabriel unravel the secrets of the dreamworld, she risks her closest friendships, her college plans, and maybe even her life.

Author:

S.J. is a cheerful Michigan girl who writes strange and somewhat dark stories. Young adult literature is her preferred genre, with an extra special fondness for books by Michael Lawrence, Beth Revis and Eve Marie Mont. She thinks she’d enjoy living an extra life in a dreamworld, especially if she could dream her way to England. Facebook is her social media of choice, find her at:

https://www.facebook.com/SJLomas

When I started Dream Girl I was extremely excited. I have been wanting to check this book out for months. I will say I was not disappointed.

This was a rather quick read for me, mostly because it didn’t leave my hand much. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was going on, everything would change. It kept you guessing and always provided more questions then answers.

I love the main character, she is relatable in so many ways. The situations she finds herself in are out of this world, but her reactions are always right on point with reality. The love story was there, but not overbearing, which was refreshing.

All the characters were very well written and real. I also love that there wasn’t so many people to keep track of. It makes the story so much more enjoyable when it’s only the MC and a few friends or family, in my opinion.

Also, I love reading local stories. So the fact this was based around the Detroit area makes me smile when I read it. The mannerisms in the characters are so familiar, and that always makes for a good read.

This book was fun, and fast paced. It makes the time slip by as you get lost in its pages. The characters were relatable, the setting of course amazing. The story keeps you guessing all the way until the end, and still leaves you with questions. Love It!

5 Stars!!

Great Job S.J.

—Pixie

The Silence of Severance – By: Wes Markin – Review

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Thank You for letting me be apart of this amazing Blog Tour!

Wes Markin is a hyperactive English teacher, who loves writing crime fiction with a twist of the macabre.

Having finished the third instalment in the DCI Yorke series, ‘The Silence of Severance’, Wes is now working on the fourth instalment of DCI Yorke’s wild ride. He is also the author of ‘Defined,’ a prequel to his DCI Yorke novels, which takes the reader back to his blood-soaked university days.

Born in 1978, Wes grew up in Manchester, UK. After graduating from Leeds University, he spent fifteen years as a teacher of English, and has taught in Thailand, Malaysia and China. Now as a teacher, writer, husband and father, he is currently living in Harrogate, UK.

Wes Markin on Social Media


Twitter                                    twitter.com/MarkinWes
Facebook Author Page        www.facebook.com/WesMarkinAuthor
Goodreads Author Page      bit.ly/GRtoWesMarkin
Amazon Author Page           author.to/WesMarkin

The Book:

Your wedding day should be the most unforgettable day of your life. And this is one wedding that will never be forgotten.

When a police officer’s wedding day ends in brutality and chaos, DCI Michael Yorke is pulled away from his own wedding and into the bloodiest chain of events Wiltshire has ever seen.

As a heatwave tightens its grip on Salisbury, Yorke and his team face a race against time to find the most sinister and intelligent adversary they have ever faced. Christian Severance. But as the team chase Severance into the shadows of a dark past, Yorke’s own history starts to drag itself into the present. 

Can they stop Christian Severance before he achieves the unthinkable? And will Yorke survive the revelations that claw at him from the darkness?

The DCI Yorke Series:

#1 One Last Prayer for the Rays           : bit.ly/OneLastPrayerfortheRays 
#2 The Repenting Serpent                       : bit.ly/RepentingSerpent
#3 The Silence of Severance                  : bit.ly/SilenceofSeverance

This is the third book of this series. To get ready for this tour, I picked up the previous two books in hopes to quickly read them and be caught up. That of course was no big deal at all, because once you pick these books up, you simply can’t put them down. I am a huge fan of mystery, and detective novels, and this has become one of my favorites.

This novel not only takes you through the wild ride that is Christian Severance, but every single step taken to find him and stop his madness. I love how this book shows everything, every thought, phone call, conversation, it makes you feel like you are actually there with the group trying to solve the case. It is chaotic and all over, but beautifully so, as I assume working cases like this, you would be chaotic and all over.

I love all the characters of this book, even the bad guys. They are all so well written, their personalities work with the story. The bad guys aren’t just there, their stories are weaved throughout the novel, to the point of making you ALMOST sympathize with them.

The Case in this story is so different from others I have come across. Not only is the story of our villain a tragic one, but the stories that follow are equally tragic. I had a hard time disliking the people behind the crimes, crazy…but true.

5 Stars for this one!

This novel is beautifully written. The emotions you have while reading makes you question your own sanity.

Well done Wes!!

—Pixie

No Vacancy – by: Bonnie Randall – Review

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Book Description:

There’s always room…

When therapist Lucas Stephen’s sister returns from a legendary Los Angeles hotel, she’s a shell of the artist she once was. Nearly catatonic, deteriorating rapidly, Michelle alarms Lucas by painting the same old-style straight razor over and over.

Heartbroken and frightened, Lucas resolves to find out what happened to her. With his beautiful—and psychic—colleague Della, Lucas travels to L.A., booking a room in the hotel Michelle stayed at.

They barely cross the threshold when Della senses evil. She sees bodies falling out of the sky. Broken dreams. Imprisoned nightmares. She begs Lucas to leave, but the hotel makes both time and truth shift, and when Lucas looks into the mirror in his sister’s room, he sees the straight razor—and is drawn to the bright, scarlet stain of fresh blood…

From the Author:

Insatiable for real-life mysteries, I tripped over the Elisa Lam story one afternoon, the strange case of a young woman who vanished while staying at the notorious Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles…only to be discovered after residents complained of foul tasting, discolored water in their drinking glasses and showers. Searching for the source of the water contamination, hotel staff surely found it – Elisa was dead and decaying in one of the hotel’s rooftop water tanks.
Elisa’s disappearance, and most certainly her last known moments (immortalized in some of the most bizarre CCTV footage I’ve ever seen) sent me down a rabbit hole both disturbing and horrifying. For many sleepless nights I just couldn’t get The Cecil off my mind. I had to let it live–and maybe even attempt to control it–through one of my own stories…thus No Vacancy was borne

About the Author:

Bonnie Randall lives in a forest at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada.
Scribbling stories in coil-bound notebooks from the age of 9, Bonnie’s first attempts at prose featured wicked dolls, evil grandmothers–oh, and a romantic hero who just happened to be a professional ice hockey player (go figure).

Clearly much has changed yet nothing has changed; Bonnie is still a sucker for true love, soul mates, smudgy shadows and things that go bump in the night.​Yet while writing has been the passion, social work has been the calling and, within a career spent in both Child Protection and addictions counseling, Bonnie has come to believe that it is our relationships–with people and environments–that shape our souls and craft what, ultimately, becomes the human experience.

​A Scorpio to the core, Bonnie’s passion is, well, passion–and mysticism, creepiness, and all things arcane. Her stories explore what love looks like in the face of paranormal peril for “Till death do us part” is, after all, only an illusion…

Love never dies…

Links:

Twitter – @BonnieRandall35

Website – http://www.bonnierandallstories.com

No Vacancy is a short read full of horror and emotions. The book starts and you already have multiple questions, and when it ends you have an entirely new set of questions. The mystery behind this story is very interesting, and creepy. I enjoy that multiple secrets still lay beyond in that hotel.

The characters work well with each other, and the story. The personalities and emotions are relatable. The setting is scary, and it’s what makes this read all the more chilling.

I made the mistake of reading this at night, and in the dark with just my kindle light. Needless to say when I finally convince myself to get up and pee, every light was turned on as I went. This story weaves its way into your mind, and makes your eyes play tricks on you, Which is how you know it is a fantastic horror read.

Beautifully written and filled with horror, I enjoyed every second of this short story!

5 bright shining stars to lead your way out of the dark when you finish this book!

Great Job Bonnie!!

—Pixie

The Merchant of Menace – By: Richard T. Ryan – Review

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This is my first ever blog tour! Thank you Richard T. Ryan and team for inviting me!

The Author:

Rich Ryan

A lifelong Sherlockian, Richard Ryan is the author of “The Official Sherlock Holmes Trivia Book” as well as a book on Agatha Christie trivia, and his series, the Sherlock Holmes Adventures, now consisting of four books, all available from MX Publishing, London.

Richard Ryan obtained his master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in medieval literature; he is a die-hard fan of the Fighting Irish — it doesn’t matter what sport. He has been happily married for 40 years and is the proud father of two children.

Author Links

Twitter: @RicRyan52
Amazon:  author.to/RichardTRyan
GoodReads: http://bit.ly/RichardTRyan-GR

The Book:

Reluctantly, Sherlock Holmes agrees to assist Inspector Lestrade who is being hounded by an obnoxious nobleman whose jewel-encrusted dagger has gone missing. However, what Holmes initially believes to be a simple theft turns out instead to be his first encounter with a master criminal, who is as ruthless as he is brilliant, and whom Watson dubs “The Merchant of Menace.”

Soon Holmes finds himself matching wits with a man who will steal anything – if the price is right. Moreover, this thief will go to any lengths, including blackmail and murder, to achieve his desired goal.

As Holmes comes to understand his adversary, he also begins to realize he can only react to the Merchant because he has no idea where this criminal mastermind will strike next. All Holmes knows for certain is the Merchant seems to specialize in priceless, one-of-a-kind articles. Will that be enough information for the Great Detective to outwit his foe?

From the British Museum to the Louvre to Blenheim Palace, Holmes finds himself in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. Set against the backdrop of early Edwardian England, the Great Detective and his Boswell encounter an array of luminaries from the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough to a young Winston Churchill.

For fans of Conan Doyle’s immortal detective, the game is always afoot. However, this time around Holmes must try to bring to justice a villain who might well be the next Napoleon of Crime.

Richard T. Ryan’s Sherlock Holmes Adventures Series:

#1 The Vatican Cameos                bit.ly/VaticanCameos-RTR
#2 The Stone of Destiny               bit.ly/StoneofDestiny
#3 The Druid of Death                  bit.ly/DruidofDeath
#4 The Merchant of Menace      bit.ly/MerchantofMenace

As a huge Sherlock fan I was beyond thrilled to pick up this book. I will admit I was a little concerned about the finishing it. Although I love Sherlock, Sir Arthur Conan Doyles stories tend to get a little stale before becoming good. I will say with certainty this was not the case here. I picked up this book and I could not put it down. It kept me up at night just to finish it. It grabs your attention and runs away with it. Before you know it, its hours later and you’re a bit confused on where your day went.

The characters were the best of Sherlock and Watson. You can feel the companionship coming off the pages. Their relationship is one of my favorites in history, and Richard captured it beautifully. I was excited to see all my favorites join us for this series also, including Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson, and Lestrade.

The Case, oh my the case. This case had Sherlock stunned, but of course that just made our favorite detective work all the more harder. I love that the more intelligent a criminal, the more respect Sherlock has for them. This case was one of my favorites of all the Sherlock cases. It had suspense, intrigue, and surprise. The entire thing was beautifully written

5 big beautiful stars for this Sherlock Tale!

Wonderfully done Richard!!!

–Pixie

A Candle for the Birthday Boy – By: Christopher Hawkins – Review

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My short fiction has appeared in the anthologies Read By Dawn, Night Terrors, and The Big Book of New Short Horror, among others. I’m dyed-in-the-wool geek and an avid collector of books, roleplaying games and curiosities. When I’m not writing, you might find me exploring old cemeteries, lurking in museums, or searching for a decent cup of tea. For news about upcoming projects, and more free stories when they become available, visit my website or follow me on Twitter @chrishawkins.

A Candle for the Birthday Boy is a short story that you are given for free, that’s right free. All you have to do is sign up at Christopher’s site. You then will later get an email on when his new site is up. Once you get the email with the story you can transfer it right to kindle, or any other device, it’s simple.

I was excited for this opportunity because I love anything horror, especially short scary stories. This story did not disappoint.

This was the most suspenseful short story I have ever read. I don’t think I took a breath until the story was over. It was very well written, and you could feel the characters emotions. You didn’t read the story, you were there at the birthday party, it was intense.

I loved that it was a really quick read, but it was still so good. It left me breathless with a feeling like I had no where to go after.

On top of the scary feelings this story leaves behind, it also makes you think about the decisions you make. The outcome of your life can be changed by just one stupid mistake.

Here is a link to Christopher’s site, and this fantastic story.

http://www.christopher-hawkins.com

I give this story 5 very big bright stars!

I for one loved it, and I can not wait for this author to come out with a novel. I will be first in line to buy, or pre order the moment I know of its release.

Fantastic Job Christopher!!

—Pixie

Home – By: David Kummer – Review.

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The wilderness shows no mercy.

On a journey to nowhere, an escape from the past, four travelers must confront the harsh realities of their chosen path. The terrain is treacherous; the supplies are low. But turning back isn’t an option. Only death is behind.

Someone is following.

Others have tried this route. Many have gone; none have returned. Their only salvation, their only hope, lies at the end. But the end of the journey is not what it seems. Nothing is.

Home

From the Author

I wrote this book in the time period after my grandpa died and while I was graduating high school. A lot of my own journey and searching was imbued into this short work. You will find it thoughtful, deep, and most of all lasting.I hope you find your way out.

Home was a surprise. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was not what I got. Be that as it may it was an amazing read. The book is left in a way so you can create your own theories on most things, nothing is definite.

The characters in this book just work. That’s the simplest way to put it. You can feel the love, the sadness, and yes even the hate. I don’t know the relation of said characters, because as I stated most of the book is left to make your own conclusions, but I do believe these people consider each other a family of sorts.

The setting within this story is harsh. Reading through it I was cringing at the unfortunate situations the character found themselves in, and it was largely do to the setting. The descriptions were wonderful but left room for your own interpretation.

The deeper meaning that this story represents is there. Reading the “From the Author”, it is stated that this was written shortly after a family members passing. Reading it with that in mind opens up so many more possibilities of the meaning between the characters, the journey, and mostly the ending. It was beautifully done in everyway.

It kept you guessing and on the edge the entire time. After the story finished it left you wanting more. At the very least I may re-read it a few times to put the pieces together more.

I gave this book 5 Stars!!

This book was well written, the characters made sense, and the setting was well placed. The Meaning behind the story will be different for most people who read it, I think. With that being said I have finished this book over 24 hours ago and it is still weighing on my mind, and that’s how you know it was a wonderful book.

Fantastic Job David Kummer!!

–Pixie

Savage – By: A.M. Bristow – Review.

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A runaway groom has to face the mother of the bride he left at the altar. A teacher snaps under the pressure from his student’s entitled and disrespectful father. A woman takes matters into her own hands when a sexual assault complaint goes ignored. A stressed driver gets reckless when she realizes she’s being followed. 

How far is too far when we feel we’ve been wronged? The answer is funny, satisfying, and sickening all at once. Savage is all the ways, big and small, in which we unleash our worst selves. It’s deliciously petty or unnecessarily ugly, depending on who you ask, but inarguably it’s harmful to everyone involved. Savage is what happens when we treat others as less than human, and they respond with a little less humanity.

Savage is a collection of short stories that cover a wide range of problems. The issues covered in these stories range from petty to down right disturbing. One thing you can always count on is the justice that follows.

I enjoy the way each story is so different, but yet some how similar. They each cover a subject, be it cancer, homophobia, or something as simple as someone cutting in front of you in line at the grocery store. The stories are all believable and most even relatable. The ending is how the characters react to the issues, and in a way that most people probably wish they could, but never actually would. Some of the stories endings blew me away. I would be smiling, laughing, or even clapping at the justices brought on in some situations. Other endings went way to far and make you think about how people truly are deep down.

Would this be the way I would react?

Surely not, but the actual truth is you never know until you are in that situation.

I loved that the stories were short enough to pick up and read if I was short on time, but long enough to grab my attention until the end. The characters were all well thought out and well written. The settings were all over the place but again very well done.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel, as I will be checking out some more from this author once my TBR list is handled.

I gave this book 5 Stars!

For all the original ideas, the hilarious endings, and even the disturbing endings. This book makes you think about situations in a different light.

Also for an Indie book the amount of mistakes were close to none. I can’t even remember coming across a misplaced word, or misspelled word. So wonderful job on editing!

Great Job A.M. Bristow!!

–Pixie

The Quantum Dreamer – By: CK Snyder – Review.

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The Quantum Dreamer is the first novel in a coming of age, YA series exploring where we go when we all fall asleep.

Ephraim Orion discovers he belongs in a small group of people born with the next step for mankind. The ensuing mark of evolution is not a physical gift, but an ability to launch the mind into a cosmic consciousness – a dream world where one does not obey the laws of physics – they create.

As a humble jock with a puppy love crush, EO doesn’t think twice about his remarkable gift – a power awakened only after falling asleep.  He spends most of his waking hours daydreaming about a clever girl named Mackie – ever in his thoughts, yet oblivious to his existence.  While dealing with the emotional struggles of a young man in love, EO must cope with a family stricken over death and a new friend shaken by mental illness with life-threatening effects.  EO quickly learns the tricks of his trade while meeting other dreamers with infectious personalities and secrets turning his life upside down with a potential to change the world.

First I would like to say, as a reader I enjoy creating the world in my mind that the author describes, Too much detail of the setting can ruin that for me. This books descriptions were like poetry. The way the details were put together, and the adjectives used flowed so well together, I was amazed. It gave you so much detail to create this world, but left just enough for you to envision it yourself.

The characters in this novel were all well written and relatable. I found myself enjoying their interactions with a smirk or a giggle thinking,

“That’s something I would say.”

You can feel the love, happiness, sadness, and grief that comes from within this story. The relationships are all beautiful and have meaning. I enjoyed how everyone within the story just made it so much better. No random characters thrown in for dialog or plot changing purposes.

The plot of the book was different, and something I have never read about before. It is always fun to jump into a more original idea then something that has been done a million times.

The ending had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Once it was over it left you wanting so much more. I can not wait for the second installment of this Story.

I gave this Novel 5 Stars!

The Originality, Plot, Characters, and Art are all so wonderful. The Author did a fantastic job with this story.

GREAT JOB CK SNYDER!

–Pixie