Friday, June 8, 2012

Blog Host Post: Gone at Zero Hundred By: CR Hiatt



CR HIATT is a writer of screenplays and an author of YA action-mystery novels. The daughter of a military veteran, CR grew up in a small town where she became an All-American athlete. CR knew early on that she wasn't cut out for the nine to five type of job - her tendency to day dream about adventures often got in the way. But, being the daughter of a Navy Veteran she also knew one had to do what was necessary to be secure, so she disciplined herself to push those dreams aside and settled on working in the entertainment legal field. When those dreams invaded her world once again, CR finally gave in and set out to write her own adventures. What the heck, right. If you can't live 'em, you might as well write about them. The McSwain & Beck series are works of fiction, only based on real life events. Gone at Zero Hundred 00:00 is the first in the series, and available now. Fireworks on the 4th will be released in late June, just before the 4th of July holiday season.

Get in touch with the Author:




website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook Author
Facebook Book

Learn more about Gone at Zero Hundred 00:00



Sydney Marie McSwain and her pal, Cody Beck, team up to take on a secret club called The Devil's Door where members are branded with the tattoo of a devil and call themselves The Privileged Ones.

Sydney Marie McSwain - a tomboy who yearned for a father.


Cody Beck - a wannabe filmmaker, wisenheimer and flirt.

Jaden White - the star who led the high school hockey team to two championships, and was now on the A-list for NHL scouts.

Sydney Marie McSwain loves her mom, Anna - a private investigator in the coastal city where they live - but they had a major issue between them. Anna refused to give Sydney the identity of her father. On the day of her high school graduation, they were battling it out, once again. An hour later, Sydney, Cody and Jaden were at the local café, and watched as Anna was gunned down, and it was broadcasted on live TV.

Faced with immediate responsibility, Sydney and Cody agreed to take over the agency, only they changed the name to McSwain & Beck. At the same time, Sydney convinced Sutter Beach Detective, Ace Carter, to help her track down her father.

Out of the blue, a model walked in and hired them to follow her step-brother. While Cody was busy editing a trailer to solicit new clients, Sydney settled into her lemon-yellow pickup to do surveillance, and wound up staking out a secret club called The Devil’s Door whose suspicious members wore the tattoo of a devil.

That same night, Sydney received a call from one of her mom’s former clients, only the client was gunned down at the location where they agreed to meet. The mysterious discovery of a DVD revealed the possibility that teenagers were being abducted, only nobody reported them missing.

On the hunt for the victims, McSwain & Beck were chased by men in ski masks, nearly gunned down by members of a cartel called the outlaws, Sydney’s precious pickup was broken into; then the step-brother they were hired to follow, was found dead and Sydney was the number one suspect.

If things weren’t bad enough already, they had to figure out how to crash a red-carpet Mardi Gras bash being held on a private cruise ship, before it sailed off into the sunset, where they just might meet the devil, himself.

Now, the clock was ticking…

And time was running out…

How was she ever going to find her father, now?


“Their lives were in the hands of two 18 year-olds…”


(Shhhh.... Sneak Peek) 

The ticker tape on the bottom of the TV read: In an unusual turn of events, Investigator Anna McSwain assists law enforcement personnel in the arrest of Marty Cole, an officer with the Sutter Beach Vice Unit. Cole is another individual alleged to be involved in the pension fund scam that McSwain uncovered earlier this year.

Anna slipped her weapon back in its holster, and started down the path toward her own SUV, when…

POP – POP – POP – POP…

A sniper opened fire, and a round of bullets ripped into her chest. She stumbled and faltered; then fell like a dead weight to the ground.

It was immediate pandemonium at the scene. “Shots fired! Shots fired!” an officer screamed at the top of his lungs. “Officers take cover.” Uniformed officers took up defensive positions and scanned the area for the shooter.



~THE REVIEW~

 Writing a murder mystery takes a special writer and a sharp mind. CR Hiatt has this down. Her ability to pull the reader in and not let go is mesmerizing. The connection and thrill you feel for her characters as they go from one close call to another and are thrown from one adventure stunt to the next will keep you begging for more. The clues are there if they can just get them. And they are willing to risk it all to do so. Courage, strength, a quick wit and a drive for answers keeps the team on their toes and one step at a time closer to finding the truth. And don't we all want the truth? 

I highly suggest anyone that loves a good mystery book to pick up this one. You won't be sorry and you won't want to put it down. 






Win your own copy! 


 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Book Review: Fat Chances



Lets Meet the Wonderful Author J. S. Wilsoncroft

J.S.Wilsoncroft was born and raised in the small town of Curwensville, Pennsylvania. Her mother and father taught her to be strong and never give up on her dreams, even though as a teenager she wasn't sure what those dreams were. It wasn't until she was older that she decided she wanted some kind of job working with animals. So at the age of 23 she got her dog grooming license and has been grooming puppies ever since.

It wasn't until five years ago that she started writing. She woke up one morning with this story on her mind and as the day grew on so did the story. She finally decided to sit down at her computer and start typing. That's when her first book (unpublished) Roller Coaster Love was born. After that, writing stories came to her as easy as grooming dogs. In fact alot of her story ideas came to her while she was grooming. So with the old saying "Don't quit your day job" she literally takes it to heart.

To say the least, you will find in alot of her stories....a loveable pooch.

Now...J.S.Wilsoncroft has her hands full  being a wife, a mother to two children and 3 yappy dogs, full time dog groomer and a part time writer. 





What do I think of Fat Chances??

5 OUT OF 5 STARS!!!!

I'm not sure if it was due to the fact I connected to the character on a personal level, or if it was because I wish my husband was like Corey. I would love to be loved on that level. It was the type of thing that some people dream about and here it was in reality. I could not put this book down. I couldn't put the book down until the end and then I wanted more!!! 

This spoke to me. Being a large girl myself I knew all the humiliation and worries and fear that Annie feels. I could put myself in here shoes and truly relate to all her statements and thoughts. And to find a guy that can see past the outside and see the beauty on the inside is a beautiful thing. Everyone should learn from this. Beauty is what is inside you. Not what your shell looks like.

*NOTE TO J.S. WILSONCROFT I HOPE THERE IS A SEQUEL!!*


You too can get the chance to have this amazing book to your collection!




a Rafflecopter giveaway



Or you can buy yourself a copy here

Amazon Paperback
Kindle
Barnes And Noble
Smashwords

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Book Review: LOST Amelia Jones Private Detective Series


Amelia's sheltered life changes when an heiress enters her detective agency and offers a windfall. Amelia needs the money, but the case threatens her old way of life. She must decide if breaking from her shackles is worth losing everything she has ever known. Lost follows Amelia through a conflict of identity, romance, and family.



More about Pandora Richardson
Pandora Richardson is a fan and writer of fantasy, mystery, and romance novels. A Jersey girl at heart, she now lives near Washington, D.C. with her canine familiar, Loki. Ms. Richardson loves eating Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream and writing her next masterpiece from her bubble bath.



 I did enjoy reading and learning about Amelia. And I look forward to book two. However, I think a lot was put into book one. There was some time skips but there was also a lot of side things. Like questions about other people, side task, and it could get a bit confusing. 

However, I did think the concept was good. I want to read more of Amelia and see how she tackles on what still lays ahead of her. She has cases to solve and growing up to do. Can't wait to see what situations she finds herself in next.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Book Review: Deadly Vows


In life or death, sometimes the actions toward another person are not forgotten. The invasions of another persons mind set can cause the viewer to take a step back, sit up and imagine that the enemy does not see what is coming. They are in the inner part of the enemy head to feel the pain and not mix it up. In a new line up of horror stories, Mr. Marsh takes us to the existence that there is more to life and death that we already know. Marsh focuses hard on showing us the different views of how pain and a doormat person can live inside us all and not realizing it until it is to late. Marsh mind set is so strong on the death of him, that he sheds a dark light just to allow us to read a little concerning the demons inside us all. The style he shows is very conversational and straight forward in his own dark ways. A book inside a book, "The Deadly Vows" is the mindset of Mr. Marsh. "The Deadly Vows" is powerful and offers us to see the evil we care not to see. The question after reading this book is, "Is it safe to go out again, knowing that there are people that are out there with his mindset. The "The Deadly Vows" is a dark and painful raw emotions book to read and it bares a spectrum of themes to comprehend.


My Review

Robert has a grasp for emotion that really pulls the reader into the authors world. Fear, anger, dismay and hope are just some of the emotions that are brought fourth as you read through the tidbit stories and poems.

I would have enjoyed knowing more about the types of situations that drove these emotions. However, each story brings to the surface a realization and connection to each person. We can all relate to the feelings and thoughts brought on us in the past.

As we travel across the hills of the highs and lows of the author you find yourself getting lost in the words. With each short story, poem and entry being less then a page long it is a quick and easy read.

Monday, June 4, 2012

BLOG Hosting for: Trying To Score By Toni Aleo

Photobucket


Before we get into the book lets take some time to learn about the Author Toni Aleo! 


Author Bio
I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.
I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughters dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.
I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?







Twitter



~~~ Author Interview ~~~

What is your favorite part of a book?
I love the interaction between the couples. I always hate when they are apart. I really do like sex too, so those are also a favorite. 

When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the actual meaning?
Maybe not their meaning, but what they mean to me, yes. Like, I named one of my heroines Elli because of Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles. And my hero, Shea, cause he is my hockey crush.
 
Do you use real-life facts based on true stories?
Yes. All the time. People that know me and read my stuff are always like, ‘OMG Toni! That happened last week!”


Did you ever think you would ever become an author?
No. I dibble dabbled in it a little when I was younger but never thought I would be where I am today. One day, Shea and Elli popped in my head and they needed to be written. Here I am , three stories in and three more that need to be written.


How long did it take you to publish your first book, after you started trying?
About 2 months.


What is the hardest part of writing for you?
Second guessing myself. I am horrible about it. I’ll write a whole chapter, read it and think its crap. But then I leave it be for an hour or so, and come back and love it. I am probably bi polar, and don’t know it. 

What is the best thing about being an author?
The fans. I LOVE THEM! They are so much fun to interact with and I enjoy our emails, and messages. Plus, I love writing these amazing stories about love. I love giving my characters life.


What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Just write. Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t. 






Contemporary Romance
Title: Trying to Score
Author: Toni Aleo

Date Published: 4/11/2012
Synopsis: 
Fallon Parker’s dream was to have her family’s wine company at the top of all wine magazines and to have a cellar of her own. After graduating from college, she has worked hard to make that dream a reality, even if that meant having a nonexistent love life. She had her chance at love and that was a bust, so she put everything into the wine company. After becoming the official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, Fallon finally feels like everything is falling in place, that is until Lucas Brooks comes back into her life.

Lucas Brooks hates his life. He is lonely, he is sober, and he is angry. On the ice, when he’s not in the sin bin, he the leading scorer in the NHL but off the ice, he is a mess. He threw away the most important person in his life, and has regretted it ever since but when Lucas sees Fallon again after being traded to the Assassins; he is bound and determined to get her back. Even if she wants nothing to do with him.

The sexual tension between Fallon and Lucas is electrifying as Lucas tries to convince Fallon that he is a changed man. Fallon tries to resist Lucas, but it is so hard when all her body wants is his. But when Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a huge secret from him, the game he is playing stops and penalties are called.

With new rules and new players on the ice, will Fallon and Lucas be able to work out their differences and work as a team or will they be left trying to score alone.


Before my low star grade let me tell you that Toni Aleo is a lovely author with a strong writing ability and some lovely story ideas. However, like some other books I've read the whole thing was set off and really makes me dislike the book for ONE REASON.... Fallon. I know it can be a great idea to have the main person or one of them be to the point of annoying that helps draw drama and people into the book because people love to have someone to hate. But Fallon's personality, character, and just all around being made me dislike the whole book. 
On the plus side... Lucas and Aiden really warm your heart. I love the father son relationship. I believe it is what kept me going on in my reading. I look forward to book 3 of the Assassins series and hope to see more of Lucas and Aiden's bond grow. 








GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!!!



Amazon - Trying To Score
Barnes and Noble - Trying To Score


~~~ Disclosure ~~~



*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*