Pages

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

JD's January Book News

Hello there!  And welcome to a brand new feature that is making it's debut today.  Hope you enjoy it.

And please note - this will be a monthly post now, appearing about the 1st - 5th of each month.

To submit news - Just send me a message via my author's page on facebook.  Here's the link:
http://www.facebook.com/jdswrpg

And now, here's your January Book News:


A brand new page, and a brand new book award
Check it out, the page link:

And here's a sneak preview at what the award certificate will look like:

The Driggers teddy bears will be handing out their first book award soon, so follow their page for more info on this.

Science fiction author Angus H. Day
has a new book coming out called ‘Utopian Estates’.  To find this and more of his books, visit his Amazon author page:

Blue Plague series
Well the sequel for the book ‘Blue Plague, the fall’ is out!  And it is called ‘Blue Plague, survival’.  Here’s the links for both so you can go get yours. 



Author Devona Serenity
has a new book out called ‘Finding Limits’.  It’s an excellent book, and I think it may be the beginning of a series.  Here’s the link for that:


Author Patricia Macias
continues her fine work in the ‘De La Cruz saga’.  Fans of this saga will be delighted to know of more books in this series coming out.  The books in the series are:



Hot & Spicy: De La Cruz Saga - is the first book

Hot & Forbidden - is the second book

The third book is - Hot & Enchanting

And . . . the FOURTH book will soon be out!  It will be called ‘Hot & Wild’.



Author Jt Sather
is delighted to announced that he has signed with Inkbeams Press.  The author himself said:

“Inknbeans press read my book, and they loved it!! They sent me a contract and signed me up. If all goes well, it'll be on the shelves in Feb!! I'm losing my mind!”

Best of luck Jt! 
And if you haven’t yet read his book, well what are you waiting for?
‘How to Survive When the Bottom Drops Out’

Coma Dream's Facebook release Party
Author Denny Paul is holding a release party on facebook for his book.  It will be held Tuesday, January 15, 2013 from 12:00 am until 11:30 pm

It is public, and here’s the link if you want to go:

Author Virginia Jennings
got a neat Christmas surprise when her book ‘The Alien Mind’ made it onto the Amazon top 100 free list.  Check it out:



And if you haven’t gotten her book yet, here’s the link:

New book out by L.E. Perez
Author L.E. Perez has her first book out, ‘Beauty of Fear’.  Check it out here:

Third book in the Precog in Peril series
will be out the first week in January, announces author Theo Fenraven.

The first book in this series is - Three of Swords -

The second book is - Knight of Wands -

And the third book is titled - The Lightning Struck Tower -

Popular Life Series by
author S.B. Robinson has a new book out.  The book, called ‘The Popular Life’ is a bundle book that contains all three stories from the Popular Life series including My Popular Life, My Formerly Popular Life and My Not So Popular Life. 

Here’s a link to the author’s Amazon page:

And here’s a link to the book

Free Book Alert
from author Anne R. Allen.  Her book, ‘No Place Like Home - A Camilla Randall Mystery’ will be free on January 1-3.  So amble on over and snap yours up.

Here’s the link for that:

New romance novel
titled ‘A Viennese Christmas’ by author Lynn Crain is now up and available for your reading pleasure.  Going by the description, it sounds like a really yummy novel to get. 

Here’s the link so you can go get yours:

Free book by Jerold Last
Jerold Last’s book, ‘The Body in the Parking Structure’, will be available for free on Amazon - January 1-3, 2013.  So be sure to get yours!


Author Rebecca Brown announces
that the third book in her ‘Fever’ novella series is now out and available.  The books in the series are as follows:

Fever in the Blood

Blood Lust

Cold Blood

Author Walt Lamberg is pleased to announce
that he has completed the 13th and final Kindle book in his Army stories series.  The name of this newest book is ‘First Sergeant's Had It!’ and here’s the link for it:

The sequence of all the stories, in chronological order are:

The Souvenir Shop,
You Hear the News,
Got The Imjin River Blues,
You Didn't See Nothing,
One Christmas Eve,
The G.I. Party,
Drinking Beer Telling Stories,
The Formation,
War Forever After,
Not in This Life Time,
Good to be Back Home,
A Shot of Whiskey A Beer Chaser,
First Sergeant's Had It!

Here is the link to Walt’s facebook page, where you can find more info about his books:

And here is the link to his Amazon author page, where you can find all the buy links for his books:


Author Venessa Kimball now has
a street team.  Want to be a part of her street team?  Check out the following link for more info:

Author L. Allen Stovey announces
the early January launch of his new book, E-Z Money.  Razor O'Banick returns in this mystery/suspense story, set in the LA area. Razor attempts to balance the scales of justice.  Here’s the link to his Amazon author page:

Author Kelly Stuart has released
her book ‘Love's Awakening’, on Amazon kindle.  It’s a love story of a different kind.  Here’s the book description:

Thirty-year-old Celia Hall is falling in love with a man she dares not pursue, and at exactly the wrong time. Celia knew that life after having her baby would be different, especially since her husband did not love her anymore. But Celia never expected post-baby life to be this difficult. David, her husband of three years, is in a coma that turns into a vegetative state. Oliver, David’s twenty-nine-year-old son, is forced into the awkward position of revealing David’s secrets to Celia. Celia and Oliver share a perfect, passionate kiss that they cannot stop thinking about. Plus, they can help each other in ways no one else can. They try to build a friendship, but their growing attraction gets in the way. Can Celia and Oliver move past the taboo of their attraction and find their path together?

Dragonthology is coming!!!
and should be out January 3rd, from Untold Press.  The book is anthology, with seven stories written by seven different authors.  Check out the cover:



Does that scream ‘read me’ or what!  Here’s some more info on it, shared with me by one of the authors, Troy Lambert:

Enter the pages of the Dragonthology. No single story has ever been great enough to contain the mystical, wondrous creature known as the dragon. We assembled the greatest draconian tales and put them between the covers of a single tome to satisfy your hunger for everything dragon. Seven magnificent stories, ranging from science fiction to mystery, await you within.

The Case of the Bloodstone Dragon by G.L. Jackson
A washed up has been, Private Investigator Clark is down to his last $100. That is, until the night a mysterious femme fatale walks through his door weaving a tale of intrigue in hope of recovering an artifact steeped in mystery and danger. What follows is a raucous ride through a little known human and dragon history, played out on the streets of New York City.

Unto the Breach by Jason Andrew
Jonathan Heller uncovers an unusual secret during one of the bloodiest campaigns of World War One in the middle of horrific trench warfare.  Can he convince an ancient dragon that humanity is worthy of life during their darkest hour?

The Dragon of Sullivan Hall by Marian Allen
A dormitory full of fun loving female students, an angry red dragon with a litter full of hungry whelps, and a particular student of Irish descent. This won’t end well for the dragon.

Egg Hunt by Jay Wilburn
A lonely smuggler must make decisions he never dreamt possible in the darkness of space to elude capture and protect his precious cargo of dragon eggs. When one of them hatches, it threatens to damage his ship. Can a person change enough to save a ship, a dragon, and himself?

The Clan by Troy Lambert
Dragons return to the earth and humanity enslaves them with the last remnants of technology of their dying race. Now the technology of old is fading. Will the dragons be able to rise again? Will the humans declare war, or will a peaceful solution be found? It all rests in the hands of an ancient dragon, and a lowly shepherd and his clan.

Dragon Seeks a Wife by Sandra Graves
What happens when a dragon falls ill and is told he will die in a year and a day unless he finds his one true love? The only thing a dragon can do. He sets out on a quest to win the hand of the perfect mate for a dragon–the daughter of the king. Aided by a Quetzal bird sorcerer, he begins his quest. An old fashioned fairy tale with a Meso-American twist.

Darkness Taken by J.A. Campbell
In a land where children are warriors and the only adults are mythical creatures, all are called to fight the Darkness. Til and her dragon partner, Heliodor, complete the perfect Welcome Ceremony, but their joy is short lived. The Dark has slain a unicorn and taken her foal back to the Darklands. Can Til and Heliodor venture where none go and rescue the young unicorn?

Author Valerie J. Long is pleased to announce
that her book, ‘Lioness’ Legacy I—Loser’ will be out January 1st, 2013.  Here is more info on both the book and the author:

Title: Lioness’ Legacy I—Loser
Author: Valerie J. Long
Publisher: eXtasybooks
Release date: January 1st, 2013

About the book:
Life is hard and unfair—the most adaptable can survive anywhere, even a born loser. Who said a loser has to be fair?

A remote villa at the sea is an interesting challenge for a skilled thief in the first place. But if the landlord belongs to a worldwide-operating crime syndicate, it’s not advisable to get caught. Sadly, Jo learns about this too late—such just happens to a loser.

So she finds herself in a cell with a lot of time to contemplate her own life and how she arrived in her current situation. Will that give her a clue on how to escape?

This is the first book of "Lioness Legacy", a near-future Science Fiction dystopia. Eight more sequels will follow. Lioness Legacy continues where Zoe Lionheart (the namesake of the previous series) has left Earth, and old readers will soon recognize Johanna, the new protagonist, as a known face. New readers need not know the old books though, as the past events are only briefly touched.
Johanna is a rather cheeky person. She knows how to make other people blush, and won't leave it at that. Unabashed, she tells about her experience with men and women. Warning! This book contains lesbian erotica scenes.

About the author:
I am Valerie J. Long, born in 1963. I live and work in Germany as an IT project manager. I like role playing games, and I like putting my ideas on paper. I like all kinds of Science Fiction and Fantasy, I like music, and I like making you bite your nails off.

Author Robb Grindstaff is pleased to announce
that he has signed with Evolved Publishing, and his novel, ‘Hannah’s Voice’, launches January 15th.  It is contemporary/literary fiction.  Two more novels are in the works for later in 2013 and early 2014.  For more info, check out this link:

Author Allison Bruning has published
a book of poems and essays, titled ‘Reflections - Poems & Essays’.  Check out this description of the book, followed by the Amazon link:

The waters of time never lie. Wisdom drifts down through the ages for all who dare to listen. History teaches us through honesty. Are we bold enough to hear the truth?
Reflections: Essay and Poems wraps you in the untold stories of the past. Sit next to the waters of time and listen to the wisdom of the past. What if John Wilkes Booth hadn’t been killed at Garret’s barn? Who are the Shawnee? Why did the Cherokee accuse Sequoyah of witchcraft? How did Father’s Day begin? Who did Daniel Boone fall in love with? These stories and more await you within Reflections: Essays and Poems.


Allison Bruning originally hails from Marion, Ohio. Her father, Roland Irving Bruning, was the son of German immigrants who came to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Her grandfather owned a confectionary in Guttenburg, New Jersey in the early 20th century and it later became an ice cream parlor in the 50's. Her mother's family had been in the United States since the 17th century. Allison is a member of the Daughter of American Revolution, tracing her linage to Rueben Messenger of Connecticut. Her mother's side of the family was one of the first families to settle Ohio.

Allison enjoys family stories, history and genealogy. Her educational background includes a BA in Theatre Arts with a minor in Anthropology and a Texas Elementary Teaching certificate. Both acquired at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. She received National Honor Society memberships in both Theatre Arts and Communication. Allison was also honored her sophomore year with admission into the All American Scholars register. She holds graduate hours in Cultural Anthropology and Education. In 2007 she was named Who's Who Among America's Educators. She is also the recipient of the Girl Scout Silver and Gold Awards.

Allison lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her husband and their Australian Cattle Dog. She is currently working on her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Full Sail University. Allison's interest includes Ohio Valley history, anthropology, travel, culture, history, camping, hiking, backpacking, and genealogy. Her genres include historical fiction, paranormal, romance, and suspense.

Author J.E. Fishman is proud to announce
that his latest book, ‘The Dark Pool’, will be available in ebook late January and paperback late February.  Here’s some info about the book:

Three men’s lives on a knife’s edge…

Shoog Clay: The nation’s winningest inner-city high school football coach resists pressure to move up to the college level because his kids in the Bronx mean everything to him. But more powerful people won’t take no for an answer.

Antwon Meeps: One day Harriet Tubman High School’s star running back is a shoe-in for a college scholarship. The next day he’s accused of a rape he didn’t commit, his life begins unraveling, and he doesn’t know how to stop it.

The Mean: This incognito Greenwich hedge fund manager is so rich he keeps a giant sea creature as his pet. But a risky investment threatens to ruin him, and a stubborn high school football coach holds the key to his redemption.

Soon a tragic hanging in the school gymnasium will lay bare a secret force that none of these men understands. In a “dark pool” marketplace, insatiable Wall Street players have wagered everything on certain real-world outcomes. When fortunes hang in the balance, financiers cloaked in anonymity won’t hesitate to pay off their claims with the blood of others.

Visit his website for more info on the book, and instructions on how to get a sample chapter of the book:

What is a fable?
Author Margaret Arvanitis provides us with an answer:
A fable is a fictionalized story that often encompasses a supernatural element. A legend or myth. A fable sometimes teaches a practical lesson -- the so-called moral of the story. My fables consist of characters such as elves, fairies, pixies, imps, mermaids and other mythical characters.

She is working on Nadeea's Magic, the tale of a Pixie girl residing near Mount Hood, Oregon, and she is planning on an early launch in 2013.  Her My latest published fable, FORBIDDEN WINGS, A Mermaid's Story, is on Smashwords and Amazon.com

Author Dellani Oakes is proud to announce
that she has a story in "Nightfalls: Notes from the End of the World", a sci-fi anthology.

Sharing news . . . from Karen Rigley
Soul Mate is a small publisher & Renagade Moon (CupidKey 4) should've been released sooner, but there's a delay, so I'm guessing Feb.

As for my interviews: I've offered my blog to help celebrate Mystery Most Cozy (FB & Yahoo group), by doing interviews of cozy mystery authors. Through Nov & Dec. I did a Monday & Thursday one every week, but in Jan. I'm only doing the Thursday interviews. Go to my blog & glance through the ones up. A new one posts tomorrow. It's been a fun, but exhausting project & I'm glad it ends at the end of January.

My January interviews:
Jan. 3rd--mystery author Betty Webb,
Jan. 10 -- cozy author: Lorianne Bartlett/Lorna Barrett/LL Bartlett,
Jan. 17th--mystery writer Esri Allbritten,
Jan. 31 -- cozy mystery author Leann Sweeney.
They'll all be available on . . .
http://shimmerfall.wordpress.com

Friday, December 28, 2012

Book review - How to survive when the bottom drops out by JT Sather


How to survive when the bottom drops out by JT Sather





Where do I begin in writing this review?  I think I shall start with this statement:

The book is much like the man, fascinating to get to know. 

I have been extremely lucky to have the author Jt, as a friend on facebook, as well as getting to read and review his book.  And I completely loved it!  This is a great book!  And I’m not usually one to go in for non-fiction books.  But this is definitely one I would enjoy re-reading.  And I most certainly hope he writes another book, for I would be there in line to read it.

One thing the author told me is that he wanted to book to feel more like a conversation than a read.  Well, he succeeded.  That’s what makes this book so much fun to read.  Have you ever sat down with a relative or good friend, who has had a fascinating life, and just listened to the stories they have to tell?  Well if you have ever done that and enjoyed it, then you will love this book. 

The author told me that this book was the first thing he had written since high school.  Well you wouldn't know it to read it.  He also told me that he sort of wrote the book as a guide for men, and had no idea that women would like it too.  So ladies, if you are trying to understand the male animal better, checking out Jt’s book would definitely help. 

So let me continue this review by sharing some quotes from the book with you: 
Author’s Note - The names have not been changed to protect the innocent. There aren't any.
Then one year later the factory my wife and I both worked in closed down. Oh, shit! Now what?
The Midwest was pretty tight in those days. The decision had to be made.
“Go West young moron!”
So off to Las Vegas we went . . .
And that’s just from the very beginning, I’m talking the first 2-3 pages of the book.  Now here’s a quote which gives an example of the kind of common-sense advice which is peppered throughout the book:
I learned tons about how to build everything under the sun and how to make loads of money doing it. It would have been handy if I had learned how to save it.
Here is a quote from the book where, when you read it, you go - ‘Oh yeah!  I've been there’ --
Have you ever done one of those silly tests for a job, guidance counselor, or your parole officer where they offer you a ridiculous hypothetical question, and then right before you answer they interject with “Now there is no right or wrong answer?” Bullshit. You can bet your ass there is.
And to give you more of a flavor for the book, here is another quote:
Looking back at it, I realize now that if I would have worried more about myself instead of everyone else, I probably would not have been evicted and we would've still had a place to live.
It’s become my golden rule. You see, by concentrating on yourself there is a byproduct. You will simply have the things to offer others in need without such apprehension.
Also throughout the book, there are definitions, or Jt-nitions - as I would name them:
Keeping your Karma rolling is going to be a major factor when you rebuild the next time.
[ Karma: the force generated by a person’s actions held to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person’s next existence. Holy shit, don’t piss her off! ] 
And lines like this one:
P. S., never leave home without a parachute. You never know when you’re going to be thrown off the plane. 
All the ladies out there will love this chapter:
Chapter 12: Learn How to Dance
First of all, it’s something every man should know how to do.
And there are tons and tons more I could quote from the book.  Gems of knowledge shared, wonderful stories, great common sense to live by, and more.  But if you want to know more, you just need to get the book and read it.  I highly encourage it!

Now I want to close with this video.  This is for you Jt.  And for those who have really read the book, you’ll get it too.  And if you haven’t read the book, go get one, read it, and then you too will get it.

Styx - Come Sail Away

Book review - Destinies by Karleene Morrow


Destinies by Karleene Morrow





This book is historical fiction, and is set in Russia and Germany in the 1700s, during the reign of Catherine the Great.  Now if you like historical fiction, and are looking for a good long one to cuddle up with for the winter, this is your book.  But please make note, and make the distinction between historical fiction and historical romance.  They are two different animals.  And this book is historical fiction.

That having been said, I’m not a big fan of historical fiction.  I have the utmost respect for writers who write it, because they are limited story-wise by the actual facts of recorded history.  As far as historical fiction goes, I think that this is a well written one.  But it is also a long one.  It is some 800 plus pages long. 

On to my opinion of the book:
I didn't care for it.  Now, let me tell you why:

First, I’m not really a fan of historical fiction.  And especially not this one.  I mean, we all know where the poor people of Russia and Germany back then end up.  And it’s not a pleasant fate.

Second, I don’t care for books this long.  Any book over 500 pages is too long.  And a book that has 800 pages should have been cut into two different books.

Third, the author lost me through three specific incidents in the book.  They bothered me so that I didn't even bother to finish the book.  You see, in the book, there are these German natives who are going to immigrate to Russia to take advantage of a free land offer that Katherine makes.  So there is this one character, a teenager, who has this horse he loves; and he has to leave his beloved horse behind.  This is sad, and I didn't care for that part.  Next, there are these two families who are very close, and who are both going to Russia.  One of the families get on the boat, and the other misses it by seconds.  This is a terribly depressing scene in the book.  Then, as the boat is going down the river, they pick up a family off of a raft.  The family consists of father, mother, kids, and grandfather.  When they get to the bigger boat, the grandfather is forced to stay behind because he is too old.  And the author makes the point of saying that the grandfather dies soon after the family leaves for Russia. 

Well, that is when I quit reading.  And that is when I noticed for the first time, how long the book was.  I flipped through it, and checked out the ending a bit.  Then I moved on to another book.

So that gives you an idea of what the book is about.  If you like long, historical fiction and don’t mind sad parts in your book - then this book might be for you.  But if the things I didn't like would bother you, pick up another book.

Book review -- Finding Limits by Devona Serenity


Finding Limits by Devona Serenity



Hey there! I was privileged to do the editing on this book, and it's a great story. I highly recommend it! Half the fun of editing is getting to read these books before the rest of you do.

The author has created some great characters that you will love. And there is a great story here. The story of a woman who was badly abused in her past, and has shut her heart away. The story of a man much younger than her, who is determined to pry her heart open again because she is the love of his life. The story of an estranged daughter who has been protected from the truth. The story of the dedicated witness protection agent who has worked for years to keep these two women safe.

You know you want to get this one and read about the moment when all their fates intersect.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

ebook review - Mistletoe Mischief (A Romancing Wisconsin Holiday Story) by Stacey Joy Netzel


Mistletoe Mischief   (A Romancing Wisconsin Holiday Story)  
by   Stacey Joy Netzel









It all starts with a kids school trip to the zoo, and one father who is late, and one mother who is somewhat peeved, and two little girls who are best friends.

Eric snapped his slack jaw closed when Marissa Wilder swept past him in a huff. Wow. Someone had a major attitude, and she’d decided to direct it at the bull’s-eye he must be wearing on his chest.
The story gets more interesting when one of the little girls almost falls into the giraffe enclosure.  And a twisted ankle only serves to intensify the story. 
At five feet seven inches without shoes, she must weigh three times what his daughter did, yet he strode down the platform steps as if she were as light as his six year old daughter.
The sparks fly in the zoo as Eric and Marissa can’t ignore the attraction they feel for each other.
What he wouldn't give to be completely alone with her for this first kiss.
It even includes a jolly ‘Christmas in July’ Santa that gives Eric a sprig of mistletoe along with some sage advice.  What starts at the zoo continues at Eric’s home, and ends up in some serious romance.

This is a delightful book that will leave you wanting to read more of the series.  And anytime the end of a book leaves you interested in more, but still satisfied with the book you've read, then the writer has done their job well.  If you like this book, you will want to read the others in the series, and my advice is to get the boxed set.  It’s the best deal, and includes a bonus story.

Keep a watch for my reviews of the other books in this series.
-- jd --











Thursday, December 13, 2012

Christmas ebook - Kiss of the Christmas Wind


Kiss of the Christmas Wind 
by Janelle Taylor











Here’s another wonderful holiday romance novel for you, written by Janelle Taylor.  And she doesn't disappoint with this great holiday novel.  This time, our holiday romance is set back in the old west days.  This time we have a newly married couple, and . . . . well, just check out this quote from the book:

“It’s my job; I’m the marshal of Gates.” Thad Jamison stroked his wife’s flaming red hair, mussed from the cover she’d worn while doing evening chores in the near-freezing weather. He gazed into her violet blue eyes

This is another excellent holiday romance, just right to keep you busy while you wait for Santa to show.  It’s an excellent story about an old west marshal and his new bride.  But this holiday couple have secrets.  To find out the secrets this couple holds, you’ll have to get the book and find out.  You know you want to read more.

Christmas ebook - Be Mine for Christmas


Be Mine for Christmas 
by Alicia and Roy Street












You know those romantic holiday movies they show this time of year?  I love those, don’t you.  We have a couple of channels that show these movies mostly 24-7 during the holidays.  Those are my favorite channels during the holidays because I know there is always something fun on there to watch. 

But have you ever read a book that is like one of those holiday movies?  Well I just did, and I loved it!  Alicia and Roy Street have created a bit of holiday genius in this book, in that they have managed to put a wonderful holiday movie right into book form.  And it costs about what a coke would from the corner convenience store.  So skip one coke, save that .99 cents, and go buy this book.  This is one holiday romance movie that you’ll have to read from year to year. 

It’s the story of a mom and her son, and a bit of holiday romance with the man who owns the local Christmas tree farm.  Check out a few quotes from the book:

Jogging around a bend, she tripped and ran smack against a broad, hard chest in a black sweater. She glanced up and her breath caught at the sight of a square-jawed Viking, blond curls framing his face beneath a woolen cap, smiling blue eyes with lashes that would make most women jealous. 

And for a moment this powerfully built hunk looked so vulnerable it melted her heart.

In one swift movement Reece pressed his lips to hers, his mouth gentle, but insistent. Ellie’s hand reached up, touching his face. His arm circled her waist, pulling her closer.

When Brandon fell asleep, Reece left the room knowing fatherhood was something he didn’t want to miss out on.

You know you don’t want to miss this one!