Friday, November 29, 2013
Review: Desire by Marina Anderson
Title: Desire
Series: The Dining Club
Author: Marina Anderson
Available: Now
Genre: Erotica
Reading Level: Adult
Length: 35 pages
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Buy on Amazon
Synopsis via Goodreads:
For fans of New York Times bestselling authors E. L. James, Sylvia Day, and J. Kenner comes the first part of international bestselling author Marina Anderson's erotic series The Dining Club.
Part One: Desire
Young, ambitious theatre director Grace has no time for distractions, but she just cannot resist enigmatic city financier, David. Alluring, charismatic and an incredible lover - David never lets Grace get too close. So when he invites her to a weekend at his private club, Grace is thrilled.
Arriving at the secluded location, and excited by her nerves, David reveals the truth behind the Dining Club: a place where guests are taught to open their minds, and their bodies to erotic challenges. If she passes the tests, she is promised ecstasy beyond her wildest fantasies. If she fails, she's forbidden to ever set foot in the exclusive club again. But even as David's seductive commands make Grace feel more daring than ever before, she begins to fear for their future. What if she fails one of the Club's tantalizing trials? Will David still want her or will she lose him forever?
My thoughts:
Desire is part one of a series called The Dining Club which is made up of eight separate novellas. This story was sexy no question, but didn’t have the length needed to get me hooked. I’m not sure if this prevented me from connecting with David and Grace, or if I just didn’t like them. I thought it was kind of sleazy of him to invite her to the super secret members only club for freaky sexy times without at least a subtle heads up. Something like "hey, pack your nice panties because strangers might see them."
Grace seemed like a strong independent woman who turned into a wuss in David’s presence. Maybe had the novella had a little more meat I would have a different POV. At $1.99 an installment (for a less than a 50 page novella) I doubt I’ll read more.
It looks like this may be turned into a full length novel that will be published in January 2014. I truly think this will read better as a full length novel.
Note to self: Words like length and meat read super pervy when reviewing erotica. Check thesaurus for alternate wording next time.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by the people you are thankful for! I know we are all at least just a little thankful for Ryan Gosling :)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Waiting On Wednesday - November 27th
My WOW pick this week is
Red Rising
by Pierce Brown
Available January 2014
Darrow is a miner and a
Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the
future. Like his fellow Reds, he digs all day, believing that he and his
people are making the surface of the planet livable for future
generations. Darrow has never seen the sky.
Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better future for his children.
But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow and Reds like him are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow joins a resistance group in order to infiltrate the ruling class and destroy society from within. He will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.
Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better future for his children.
But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity already reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and sprawling parks spread across the planet. Darrow and Reds like him are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow joins a resistance group in order to infiltrate the ruling class and destroy society from within. He will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies... even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.
*****************
Why I'm waiting on Red Rising? I'm still riding the high that is Catching Fire and craving a new bad ass dystopian in a bad way. This sounds AMAZING!
What are you waiting on? Leave me a link and I'll stop by :)
Meme details: Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. Thanks for hosting! Don't forget to stop by and share your pick.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Secrets and Lies by Christine Amsden
Title: Secrets and Lies
Author: Christine Amsden
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Genre: Paranormal Mystery
Pages: 270
Purchase at Amazon
Cassie Scot,still stinging from her parents’ betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn’t letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.
To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness. Book 2 in the Cassie Scot Mystery series.
Excerpt:
“I faced my former father for the first time since he had announced his intention to disown me. He looked just as he always had, with straight dark hair, brown eyes, a long, angular face, and a wide, curving mouth – curving downward into a frown, that is.
If Victor was the last person I had expected to see in the diner that morning, then my former father was the last person I wanted to see. Even now, with Victor explaining my part in his unusual scheme for revenge, I didn’t want my former father nearby. I didn’t want his help. I only hoped Nicolas and Juliana hadn’t broken their promise and told him about the life debt, or I would never hear the end of it.
The air crackled with visible tension. Sparks of shimmering red fire danced around my father’s head. Behind the counter, Mrs. Meyers twisted her hands together anxiously, as if afraid her diner might burn down. Her fears were not unjustified.
I stepped boldly between them, facing my father. “What are you doing here?“
“We need to talk,“ he said.
“I have nothing to say to you. You disowned me, remember?“
The color seemed to drain from his face as he stared past me, at his oldest enemy.
Victor raised his water glass in a mock toast. “I’ve known for some time. If it makes you feel any worse, so does everyone else in town who hasn’t been asleep for a week. Or at least, they guess.“
“I don’t care what you think you know. Stay away from my daughter.“With that, he grabbed my arm with a hand hot enough to leave a reddened imprint on my skin, and dragged me through the kitchen to the employee room at the back. Only then did he release my injured forearm.”
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1d4d8a107/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway
Teaser Tuesday - Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
My teaser this week comes from Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
"What's a Triangle House?" Cath asked.
"It's an engineering fraternity," Wren said.
"So they, like, get drunk and build bridges?"
"They get drunk and design bridges. Want to come?" p. 31
Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by Miz B of Should Be Reading
Leave me a link to your teasers. I'd love to read them!
Monday, November 25, 2013
Author Guest Post - Brad Cotton - Boundless Blog Tour
Please welcome Brad Cotton, author of Boundless, to the blog!
********************
Honest answers, or something close to it.
As the author of a few books, I often get asked fairly sensible questions from both interested readers and/or aspiring writers.
There
are very few topics on which I am expert. For example, I can have a
respectable conversation about the footwear I own, and, I can recite my
address from memory pretty much every time. Beyond that, however, I
would consider myself pedestrian, or average, on most things. All I can
offer in the way of wisdom and advice, like most people, is experience
gathered from a subject group of one.
Having
said that, I do have a lot of experience with writing and publishing,
so please accept the answers to the following as close to fact as they
will come:
1. How long does it take to write a book?
8
months. No more no less. If you write for longer, you’re too slow and
should stop and burn what you have. If you write for shorter, you’re too
fast. Become a runner.
2. Where do you get the ideas for your books?
Funny enough: fortune cookies.
3. I’ve
always wanted to write a book, and I have a great idea for one. I’m
pretty sure I could write a worthwhile novel and it’s always been my
dream. It’s a very personal story and I think it would help a lot of
people if I shared it. I’m a little bit nervous and maybe just need some
support or encouragement. It would really make my life complete to see
my story in print. Should I do it?
No.
4. Can you make money as a writer?
That
depends. If you think eating is pretty cool, then yes, you can make
money. If you think cool clothes are the thing, writing may be for you.
If you like new cars, jewelry, houses, and private jets, you may already
be a writer. Now move along you’re holding up my line and I have a
bathroom break in five minutes.
5. How long will it take to get an agent?
About the same amount of time it will take you to write a book: 6 months. (Please do not look back at question 1).
6. Who’s your favorite author?
Brad Cotton
7. Who do you hate?
Myself.
8. Is your family supportive of your writing?
Yes. And of my brothers alcoholism. We’re a close bunch.
9. How do you get people to read your books?
Me? Personally? I… ummm, well, I… uhh. Look over there! (Runs away)
10. Is your book any good?
Yes, my book is some good.
11. Did you always want to be a writer?
The list of things I wanted to do with my life went like this: 1. Superman. 2. Nothing. 3. Writer. 4. Nothing. 5. Make lists.
12. I hate reading, but I want to write a book.
This one is more of a great comment than a question. But then again, that was more of a statement than an answer.
13. I have a completed manuscript. Should I bother hiring an editor?
Editors are often used as a last resort. If you feel your man script is ready to go, I’m petty sure it is.
14. Can you recommend a good book?
Nnnnnnnnnnnnyes!
Thanks for stopping by, Brad!
About the author:
You can visit Brad’s website at bradcotton.com, and also find him on Facebook, and Twitter @bradcott0n.
About the book:
Title: Boundless
Genre: Contemporary Literary Fiction
Author: Brad
Cotton
Publisher: Prinia Press
Pages: 458
Language: English
ISBN-10:
0991972406 ISBN-13: 978-0991972401
Best friends Duncan and Ray run a successful bookie business in Phoenix. Outgrowing the life they began in college, the late twenty-something pair set out on the road with a plan to never return. Their trip takes them cross-country with eventful stops in Las Vegas, Omaha, and Niagara Falls. Along their journey they meet several colorful characters and even agree to bring a pretty young girl named Ruby along with them for the ride. Landing in Boston to run an errand for an old friend, the travelers begin to lay roots in an attempt to forge for themselves the life they’d always hoped for. Easier said than done. As romances begin to burgeon, and one of their lives is put in danger, the group quickly discovers that where they are may indeed have little effect on who they are.
Buy a copy:
Edge Release Day Blast and Giveaway!
Today I'm happy to be featuring Edge's November releases!!
Some Like it Sinful by Robbie Terman
Perfect Recipe #2
Their attraction is sinfully delicious…
A struggling business and one act of vandalism may have brought them together, but bakery owner Chloe Nelson and professional hockey player Griffin Lange get along like chocolate and pickles. Chloe needs the famous (and famously unattached) Griffin to attract people to her pastries, and Griffin needs the curvaceous and fiery Chloe to keep him out of trouble. A fake relationship to keep the media interested seems like the perfect plan.
But when temptation throws them into bed together, a new plan arises. Why not make the fake real? Griffin’s winning every home game, and Chloe’s business has never been better. Both know it’s only physical—and only temporary. But can they drop their defenses for love, even if it means getting a little bit sinful?
Wild Card by Jamie Wyman
It was bad enough that gods gambled with human souls, but Catherine Sharp’s soul just had to be won by the Greek goddess of Discord, Eris. As if working a dead-end tech support job didn’t suck the life out of her as it was. Now, Cat finds herself performing random tasks for the goddess in her free time.But when Coyote, the Native American trickster himself, claims to have won her own soul in Mayhem's weekly poker game, Cat wants in on the action. With five sneaky gods upping the ante, Cat needs to find a way to collect the winning chips that could save her soul.Marius, a handsome yet irritating satyr with his own debt to Eris, might finally come in handy for something. If they play their cards right and work together, Cat and Marius may just get their freedom back. If they don't kill each other or fall in love first.
Sunday, November 24, 2013
Review: Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier
Title: Sapphire Blue
Series: Ruby Red Trilogy #2
Author: Kerstin Gier
Available: Now
Genre: Sci-fi/Time Travel
Reading Level: YA
Source: Amazon Vine
Synopsis via Goodreads:
Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was
the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of
Twelve. In between searching through history for the other
time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been
trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding
the Circle really mean.
At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows
every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how
to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle
demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a
church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course
there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next
he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s
pretty much destined to find out.
My thoughts:
Time travel books are slowly becoming my newest addiction and this is
without a doubt one of my favorites. I was dreading reaching the end and
the subsequent wait for the next book. The author has created a world I
am 100% immersed in and connected to. I need to know what happens next!
This series has so much left to discover. I'm dying to see how the
author wraps it all up in book 3.
Protag Gwen is a character who is so easy to like and sympathize with. I also love her eclectic group of friends and the crazy situations she finds herself in. She adds a new friend to her repertoire in Sapphire Blue who adds an excellent element of comic relief. Gideon is as frustrating as ever in Sapphire Blue and my heart broke for Gwen numerous times while reading. The accusations that were being thrown around in Ruby Red continue for poor Gwen in this novel as well. I admire her ability to keep her cool because if I were in her shoes I would have surely lost it. The mysteries just continue to get deeper and deeper. I don't feel like much was resolved, but we are set up for the finale which I'm convinced is going to rock my socks off.
The pacing of Sapphire Blue is spot on. I flew through the pages as quickly as time/life would allow. I think I may have enjoyed this one even more than Ruby Red (which I LOVED). This is just such a fabulous series. I was worried going in with it being translated from German, but you can't even tell. The writing/translation is stellar. Oh how I wish I read German so I could track down the next book in this series and find out what happens! I just adore this series and can't wait for the next book!
Protag Gwen is a character who is so easy to like and sympathize with. I also love her eclectic group of friends and the crazy situations she finds herself in. She adds a new friend to her repertoire in Sapphire Blue who adds an excellent element of comic relief. Gideon is as frustrating as ever in Sapphire Blue and my heart broke for Gwen numerous times while reading. The accusations that were being thrown around in Ruby Red continue for poor Gwen in this novel as well. I admire her ability to keep her cool because if I were in her shoes I would have surely lost it. The mysteries just continue to get deeper and deeper. I don't feel like much was resolved, but we are set up for the finale which I'm convinced is going to rock my socks off.
The pacing of Sapphire Blue is spot on. I flew through the pages as quickly as time/life would allow. I think I may have enjoyed this one even more than Ruby Red (which I LOVED). This is just such a fabulous series. I was worried going in with it being translated from German, but you can't even tell. The writing/translation is stellar. Oh how I wish I read German so I could track down the next book in this series and find out what happens! I just adore this series and can't wait for the next book!
Friday, November 22, 2013
External Forces Blog Tour - First Chapter Reveal
Title: External Forces
Author: Deborah Rix
Publisher: Dime Store Books
Pages: 268
Language: English
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Format: eBook
Author: Deborah Rix
Publisher: Dime Store Books
Pages: 268
Language: English
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Format: eBook
Purchase at AMAZON
Treason,
betrayal, and heartbreak.
A lot can happen to a girl between her first kiss and her first kill.
It’s 100 years since the Genetic
Integrity Act was passed and America closed its borders to prevent
genetic contamination. Now only the enemy, dysgenic Deviants, remain beyond the
heavily guarded border. The Department of Evolution carefully guides the
creation of each generation and deviations from the divine plan are not
permitted.
When 16-year-old Jess begins to show
signs of deviance she enlists in the Special Forces, with her best friend Jay,
in a desperate bid to evade detection by the Devotees. Jess is good with data,
not so good with a knife. So when the handsome and secretive Sergeant Matt
Anderson selects her for his Black Ops squad, Jess is determined to figure out
why.
As her deviance continues to change
her, Jess is forced to decide who to trust with her deadly secret. Jess needs
to know what’s really out there, in the Deviant wasteland over the border, if
she has any hope of making it to her 17th birthday. Because if the enemy
doesn’t kill her first, the Department of Evolution probably will.
Prologue:
I
haven't slept in forty-eight hours.
It's
part of the Special Operations Assessment and Selection course, twenty-eight
days of grueling work. The two days of no sleep are meant to disorient us, part
of discarding our former selves. There are three hundred of us trying to figure
out how to do what we're told, when we're told to, and how to do it correctly.
Jay and I weren't assigned to the same platoon, which was unexpected. I’m in
the “civilian” platoon; we’re the ones with skills that don’t generally require
brute force. I think Jay is in some kind of elite group because I haven’t seen
him, I’ve only seen the G-men platoon. They are all about brute force; they’re
the ones that opted for genetic enhancement at age thirteen without the
supervision of the Devotees. But Special Forces is, well, special, so they have
to prove they’ve got more than muscle and I’ve gotta prove I’ve got more than a
quick mind.
If
I don't make it to Special Forces, my life expectancy in the regular army could
be pretty short. And if I’m a complete washout, I’ll have to go to my
assessment with the Devotees and they’ll find out about me, making my life
expectancy even shorter. I seriously need to pass.
Zero
dark thirty is when I have to haul myself out of bed in the so-called morning.
My drill sergeant has been yelling at me for most of the past two days. The
word “why” has been surgically removed from everyone's vocabulary. Any
individual hesitation in following orders means at least one private is getting
smoked, if not the whole platoon, which usually means push-ups. We've done a
lot of push-ups. I stare straight ahead as the drill sergeant walks by me and
continues down the row of privates. I made the mistake of “eyeballing” him yesterday.
Never.
Eyeball. A drill sergeant.
First Chapter:
Three
weeks earlier – May, 2125
My
mother thinks I'm a Deviant.
It’s
the kind of thing that can really throw a girl for a loop.
The
Devotees missed it when I was born, she said, but one day they would come for
me. That was a few years ago, she didn't know I was home when I overheard her;
I got out of there lickety-split.
And
it's not as if I haven't noticed the way my mother looks at me sometimes. If
they had taken me when they had the chance, maybe her other baby would still be
with her. I'm pretty sure that's what goes through her head when she looks at
me.
So
the early assessment notice wasn't entirely unexpected. It doesn't
necessarily mean anything. Lots of kids are called for early assessments and
nothing happens; they show up at school the next day. Some of them are all
excited because they got called to become a Devotee.
But
some of them, well, they don't come back.
I'm
in the parking lot of my high school, West Liberty. It’s
prom night, and I came with my best friend, Jay. He’s still inside; he likes
this sort of thing. I haven't told him the early assessment notice came this
afternoon. I didn't want to ruin tonight for him. The humidity has made my
dress even more uncomfortable than it was inside. Jay owes me. At least he
won't mind if I go home; it's not that kind of date.
A
car door slams shut. There aren't a lot of kids who can afford the fuel to
drive their own car to the prom.
Uh-oh.
Blake.
I
take a step back. Blake is a popular kid, with the right look, the right home,
the right pedigree.
Right.
Despite
my attempts to blend in and stay in the background, Blake noticed me this year.
When I didn't respond like all the other girls do, I became his target.
His
car keys jangle as he drops them in his jacket pocket. I stand still; maybe he
hasn't seen me.
“Hey,
freak,” he calls as he comes around the blue pickup I was hoping would shield
me. “Not leaving, are you?”
I
smell alcohol as Blake backs me up against the truck.
His
slicked-back hair smells slightly astringent, and his tongue slides over his
upper lip as he looks me over from top to bottom. A shiver of revulsion goes
through me. I can’t imagine what girls like about him. I can hear some voices,
but they're at the other end of the parking lot. It's just me and Blake.
“I've
got an early graduation present for you,” he says quietly. His face is close to
mine, and I can see beads of perspiration on his forehead. Slick from the
humidity, his hand glides down my bare shoulder, as if he's entitled to touch
me.
I
don't think I want a present from Blake.
I'm
surprised when my hand moves. There is a wet sound as Blake's head snaps back.
Blood
spurts, and it seems as if time has gone into slow motion. The blood sprays
toward me. I move my head to the side to avoid it, and watch it slowly drift
by, suspended in the air.
I
turn back to Blake and a thrill zips through me. Thick, glossy blood creeps
down his chin from his mashed nose. His mouth is open in shock; blood colors
his teeth and gums. He moves sluggishly, and each blink seems to take effort.
Drip
by slow drip, the blood falls from his chin onto his shirt. Fascinated, I watch
each droplet burst on his crisp white collar.
A
wet plonk hits my forehead as a sudden coldness envelops me. The grin I’m
shocked to find on my face sags. Fat droplets of rain release the pressure in
the air and mix with the blood on Blake's shiny shoes.
Hands
to his face, he doubles over as time suddenly speeds up again. The rain pelts
down now. I take two steps to the side and run. I hear a sob and realize it's
me.
What
just happened?
Jay and me are Fifth
Generation. We’re the ones born between 2100 and 2120. We found each other in
the seventh grade. We were the last two kids left when we all paired up for gym
class. He asked me why I wasn't moving when we were supposed to be heading out
to the field. I explained that I was trying to activate my special powers so
that I could use them to transport me far away. Usually that kind of talk would
send kids running, and they’d whisper that I must be a Deviant. But not Jay. He
blinked at me, then asked if I would take him with me, should my special powers
ever actually work. We've been best friends since, and tell each other pretty
much everything.
“So, can you come to
the thing?”
Uh oh.
I think I’m supposed
to know what he’s talking about.
“Uh, when is it
again?” I stall for time. What thing?
I push my hair
behind my ears to help me think. It doesn’t always work. I have shoulder-length
brown hair, parted on the side. My no-nonsense look is how I think of it. I
still don’t know what the thing is.
“Wait. Jess. You’re
joking, right?” Jay says with a laugh that’s on the edge of anger.
“I’m sorry.” I do my
best pleading cringe. “I’m a little distracted.”
The early assessment
and whatever that was with Blake last night are the distractions. I can’t quite
believe I punched him, broke his nose by the look of it. He’s probably going to
have two black eyes. But more than that punch, as surprising as it was, is the
way time seemed to slow down around me. I want to say it was shock, or some
kind of temporary fugue state, but that’s not what it was. Something happened.
“My mother’s thing,
remember?” Jay practically yells at me.
“Oh, that,” I say
with relief. Jay’s mother is hosting a party to celebrate his seventeenth
birthday. That’s what the thing is. It’s going to be awful.
“We met up, what?
Five minutes ago? And you’re already trying to drive me crazy?” He pinches my
butt. Hard. He’s pretty worked up about this party.
I yelp and dance
around. “No way. You are not blaming your crazy on me.” I give him a solid
punch in the gut. “You had years of exposure to your mother before we even
met.”
I
go rock climbing, so my arms are strong. I've never needed to go to the gym to
work out and “stay in shape” like some of the other girls do. I’m five feet ten
and a half inches and the coach at school said I have an athletic body; he
tried to get me to go out for track and field. I don't like the idea of people
watching me like that.
But
hitting Jay is like hitting concrete. He doesn’t even notice my punch.
“And of course I’m
coming, I already told you. That’s why I didn’t know what thing you were
talking about. I thought you meant some other thing.”
“You didn’t actually
confirm with my mother,” he complains, “and I know how you feel about people,
in general.”
“I don’t have a
problem with people, in general. Just the idiots,” I say. “And your mother.”
It’s kind of a
toss-up, I suppose. A mother like mine, who actively avoids you and has already
decided you’re not worth the effort, or one who pays too much attention and has
too many expectations.
Jay nudges me as an
unfamiliar dark-haired boy, a bit younger than we are, walks toward us. He
doesn't look right at us, but he flashes us two crossed fingers with his right
hand.
I
look up ahead and see them coming our way. Three Devotees. Jay and I mumble the
greeting in unison, “Blood of our blood, flesh of our flesh, soul of our soul,”
and we look down as they brush past us in their crisp white lab coats. It's
best not to be noticed.
The
Devotees work for the Department of Evolution —everyone just calls it Devo— and
they do the work of Creation in partnership with God. The Department of
Evolution is under the direction of Secretary Galton. Basically, she’s God's
voice here on Earth. In the midst of the genetic revolution a hundred years
ago, when the Genetic Integrity Act closed America’s
borders, strict protocols for border biosecurity were instituted to stop
genetic contamination. But we were still in danger of being overrun by the
Deviants on the other side. Galton took control, ordered the fortification of
our borders and gave the military the authority to do what they needed to do.
Most people agree; she did what was necessary for our survival by relinquishing
certain powers to the military to ensure our protection. Including the ability
to create proprietary, genetically enhanced soldiers. The G-men. Since then,
Galton has been leading us through the current stage of evolution, Regenesis,
removing unwanted traits and improving and enhancing our best traits with the
guidance of God.
In
Social Biology class, Devotee Theresa taught us that we must all work for the
common good, whether we like it or not. The less intelligent are more fertile
and must be discouraged from breeding. Only those with desirable traits are
allowed to produce the next generation.
There's
this section, practically a whole semester of tenth grade, where we studied
pedigree charts, and DNA, RNA, proteins, and
ribosomes. DNA is a double helix that
carries the genetic information for all life. If only one part of one gene is
wrong, it can create a whole generation of imbeciles, and that is not in God's
plan. Or in Devo's plan. All Devotees have that DNA
double helix tattooed on their forearm, as a constant reminder of their purpose
in life.
That's
what the crossed fingers warning represents, the double helix tattoo.
We
come up to the old Palace Theater. It's been shut down for a long time, and the
large sign that hangs out front lost its first A, so it says PLACE.
Someone found a way in down the side alley, and now kids hang out there. They
say, “Meet me at the place.” If they're overheard or an adult sees a message,
it only says “the place.” So far it's stayed secret. I've heard they have
illegal sim-seats in there, ones that can scramble the biometrics and mask what
you’re doing.
“Jess,”
Jay says as he slows right down, “something’s wrong.”
“It's
time to wake up!” a skinny boy with curly red hair yells. He's standing on a
wooden crate, and people are hesitantly milling about. “People are dying! Out
there, children are starving, and you send them poison. People are sick, and
you send them plagues. The blood of our blood is on your hands!”
There
are gasps at his blasphemy, but a few people cautiously move toward him in
morbid fascination. His eyes are wild, there’s spittle on his lips. Jay grabs
my arm to tug me backward.
When
the bullet enters the boy’s left temple, it's as if he doesn't know it’s there
for a moment.
He's
about to yell, his mouth opens, his lips form a word he will never say. Then he
topples backward, and I hear the terrible thud as his head hits the ground. The
people closest to him quickly step back. No one screams, no one looks up to see
the Guardian with the rifle on the roof across the street. Everyone wants to
blend in.
Another
Guardian comes toward the Palace. The Guardians work for Devo and protect us
from Deviants. The stiff collar somehow makes his slightly rumpled, brown
uniform shirt look crisp. The yellow double helix is on the front of his cap,
and above his left shirt pocket.
“Move
along,” he says. “It was just a Deviant.”
We
all know that the plain fact of his yelling out crazy stuff in the street like
that is proof of his deviance. It’s what happens sometimes, but it’s most
prevalent during adolescence. The deviance manifests and people become
dangerous, psychotic Deviants, intent on our destruction.
The
Guardian rests his hand on the butt of the holstered pistol hanging from his
belt and waits for the brown panel truck with the whooping siren we can hear
approaching.
Jay
swears at him under his breath and keeps hold of my arm. We hurry off with the
rest of the crowd, wanting to move as far away as possible. I look back in time
to see somebody dart in behind the Guardian, dip a hand in the boy's blood, and
leave an angry red handprint on the front of the Palace Theater. A red hand.
I’ve heard the whispers but never thought it was true. As I stare at it, I
bumble into Mrs. Yamoto, one of my neighbors. She walks fast, gripping her
daughter’s hand tightly. Last year, I saw the brown truck with the double helix
on the side parked in front of her house. The Guardians had come to take her
son.
Wes.
That
was his name.
***************
About the author:
****************
About the author:
Deborah
Rix’s favourite position for
reading a book is head almost hanging off the couch and feet up in the air with
legs against the back of the couch. She’s been reading too much from Scientific
American for research and ideas and needs to get back to some fiction. She has a
long standing love of science fiction, some of her favourite authors include
William Gibson, Philip K Dick, Kurt Vonnegut Jr, Douglas Adams, Iain M Banks. A
bit old school.
Deborah
enjoyed a successful career in entertainment publicity, live music promotion
and event management. Which means she slogged through muddy fields for music
festivals, was crammed into concert halls with too many sweaty teenage boys and
got to go to Tuktoyaktuk (that’s in the Arctic Circle) for a
Metallica concert. She lives with her family in Toronto, Canada, where
she is the proprietor of The Lucky Penny, a neighborhood joint in
Trinity-Bellwoods.
External
Forces is her first novel.
Visit her
website at www.DeborahRix.com.
****************
ACCELERATE YOUR POWER GRAND PRIZE
GRAND PRIZE: Winner will have a minor
character named after them in Acceleration, the second book in The Laws of
Motion Trilogy by Deborah Rix. PLUS: 1 (One) WakaWaka Power – a solar powered
charger and light, 1 (one) Limited Edition EXTERNAL FORCES Black Ops Beanie,
and 1 (one) signed copy of External Forces.
The fine print: Grand Prize winner
will have a minor character named after them in the forthcoming book,
Acceleration. The winner can choose a name other their own as long as it is
mutually agreeable with the Author, Deborah Rix. That means nothing obscene,
stupid or ridiculous, as decided at the sole discretion of the author. Winner
agrees that the gender, race, physical description, sexual orientation or any
other characteristics of the character are at the sole discretion of the
author. Winner agrees that the character may suffer some sort of gruesome
downfall or may be a heroic figure in the story, it is at the sole discretion
of the author what the role of the character will be and to what extent the
character will be part of the story. The author assures the winner that it will
be a real character in the story and part of a sub-plot or major plot.
Terms &
Conditions:
- By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive the Accelerate Your Power Grand Prize.
- This giveaway begins November 4 and ends January 31.
- Winner will be contacted via email on Monday, February 3, 2013.
- Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Make sure to visit all the stops on the External Forces Blog Tour!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Cover Reveal & Giveaway: A Shot of Red and Dyed and Gone
Title: A Shot of Red by Tracy March
Genre: Romantic Mystery/Suspense
Length: 400 pages
ISBN-13: 9781622661251
On-Sale Date: April 22, 2014
Imprint: Entangled Select
After fleeing DC following a one-night stand that had her reeling, biotech company heiress Mia Moncure has thrived working with a humanitarian aid team administering vaccines in Haiti. When the United States is threatened with a flu epidemic, Mia’s grandmother demands her return to unveil a new flu vaccine for Moncure Therapeutics. She arrives to find that her ex-boyfriend, the company’s PR Director, has died in a suspicious accident in Switzerland that Mia soon suspects was murder.
Determined to reveal a killer, Mia heads to Switzerland, where she’s threatened as she discovers a plan to infiltrate the vaccine for nefarious purposes. Desperate for backup, she turns to sexy Gio Lorenzo, Communications Director for her mother, a high-ranking senator—and Mia’s one-night stand. While negotiating their rocky relationship, they race to uncover a deadly scheme that could ruin her family’s reputation. But millions of people are being vaccinated, and there’s more than her family’s legacy at stake.
Mia and Gio struggle to discover the truth about the scheme and their feelings for each other, but it just might be too late.
Buy a copy:
About the author:
Always up for travel and adventure, Tracy has flown in a stunt plane, snowmobiled on the Continental Divide, ziplined in the Swiss Alps, and been chased by a bull in the mountains of St. Lucia. She loves Nationals baseball, Saturday date nights, and Dairy Queen Blizzards—and rarely goes a day without Diet Coke and Cheez-Its.
Find her on the web:
***************
Title: Dyed and Gone by Beth Yarnall
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 400 pages
ISBN-13: 9781622661237
On-Sale Date: March 25, 2014
Imprint: Entangled Select
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Length: 400 pages
ISBN-13: 9781622661237
On-Sale Date: March 25, 2014
Imprint: Entangled Select
Book
Description: Hairstylist Azalea March is looking
forward to a wild weekend in Las Vegas with her friends. Oh, sure,
they’re supposed to be there on business, attending the biggest hair
show on the west coast, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have a little
fun.
But fun quickly turns to drama. On the first morning of
the show, Dhane, the biggest celeb of the hair-styling world, is found
dead. As it turns out Azalea’s friend, Vivian, not only knew Dhane, but
the tale she weaves of how they met is faker than a showgirl’s uh...
assets. When Vivian confesses to the murder and is arrested, Azalea
knows there’s no way she could have done it and suspects Vivian may be
trying to protect someone. But who?
Azalea now has to convince
Alex, the sexy detective from her past, to help her prove Vivian’s
innocence and comb through clues more twisted than a spiral perm. But
the truth is stranger than anything found on the Las Vegas Strip, and
proving Vivian’s innocence turns out to be more difficult than
transforming a brunette into a blonde.
Buy a copy:
About the author:
Beth Yarnall writes romantic suspense, mysteries and the
occasional hilarious blog post. A storyteller since her playground days,
Beth remembers her friends asking her to make up stories of how the
person `died' in the slumber party game Light as a Feather, Stiff as a
Board, so it's little wonder she prefers writing stories in which people
meet unfortunate ends. In middle school she discovered romance novels,
which inspired her to write a spoof of soap operas for the school's
newspaper. She hasn't stopped writing since.
For a number
of years, Beth made her living as a hairstylist and makeup artist and
co-owned a salon with her very best friend. Somehow hairstylists and
salons always seem to find their way into her stories. Beth lives deep
in the heart of 'The O.C.', California with her husband, two sons, and
their dog where she is hard at work on her next novel. For more
information about Beth and her stories please visit her website- www.bethyarnall.com
Find her on the web:
****************
Tracy March is giving away a $10 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Fill out the RaffleCopter form to enter.
Good luck!
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