{Spotlight} THE TRAVELER'S WAKE by JP Moynahan

The Traveler’s Wake

by J.P. Moynahan
Genre: literary fiction, crime-thriller
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Date of Release­­: July 31, 2014
Cover Artist: Michelle Johnson at Blue Sky Design

Description:
Wesley Rourke is a mouthy, Irish-lucky millionaire, trotting the globe in search of the perfect place to kill his most hated enemy, himself. Blowing his money on charity, and booze as he zooms from city to city, he lays his course towards Lima, Peru.

Once he arrives, he sets about his grisly task only to be inconvenienced by the lure of a pretty young tourist, the daughter of a prominent British lawmaker.

A few days after their first date, he awakens in a hospital to find her missing and he himself embroiled in a media blitz and massive manhunt. With time running out, and wracked with horrifying night-terrors, Wesley is forced to face his past cowardice and wade into the bowels of a pitiless underworld in search of his one ray of hope.

The city of Lima awaits him.

Find The Traveler’s Wake Online:

Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

I’m a wilderness guide and mountaineer, musician and poet. I’ve climbed all over North and South America, and played my music throughout. From mission’s work in Mexico, to clinking beers with toothless Canadians, and onto climbing an Andean glacier, I enjoy whatever comes my way.

I’m a mouthy sort with a quick tongue and an even quicker grin. Most folks hate me for the first seven minutes, then fall right in love with my winning personality and straight-toothed smile.

Though I harbor a strong sense of independence, I believe in the strength of a supportive community and tight knit family. I enjoy working with youth and young adults and showing them that staying out of jail isn’t so hard and can even be fun. But I’m not a goody-two-shoes, my head isn’t anywhere near my ass, much less in it.

Find J.P. Moynahan Online:

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

{Blog Tour} The Professor by Robert Bailey -- with review

Book Review: Dark Side of Sunset Pointe by Michael Allan Scott

A contemporary mystery and thriller—a paranormal mystery, to be more precise. Based on real-life events, this murder mystery twists and turns like a dragon kite in a high wind.

WARNING! This murder mystery is not for everyone. Mystery connoisseurs, beware. New and different, the first book in the Lance Underphal Mystery series will keep you guessing . . .

"Kirkus Reviews . . . Scott crafts an intriguing hook and a sympathetic protagonist in a world that, while seemingly depraved and dark, is clearly recognizable and believable. A well-built mystery . . ."

A Paranormal Mystery – Lance Underphal was devastated by his wife’s death, and now, the down-and-out crime-scene photographer can’t let her go. He wakes up plagued by premonitions. The double shooting of an Arizona real estate developer and his mistress/bookkeeper immerse Underphal in a world of incomprehensible phenomena and it's anything but pleasant.

The Hardboiled Detective – Frank Salmon, the homicide detective on the case, does his best to blow off Underphal’s “visions.” But the murders keep piling up and the visions are all-too real.

Sex and Money /Lust and Greed – The trail goes cold until a double homicide at a fast food drive-thru takes a u-turn back to the dead developer and a martial arts instructor's kinky wife.

Salmon reluctantly pursues Underphal’s cryptic clues, leading him from a popular strip club to a failing community bank, adding a blackmailing stripper’s murder to the body count.

Thrill Ride – With Underphal pointing the way, Salmon hunts for a key piece of evidence and the common link between the killings – a custom offroad truck. Instead of clearing the case, the truck takes off, dragging Salmon into a high-speed chase, leaving a freeway pileup in its wake.

Suspense Builds – Underphal struggles mightily with his psychic curse, teetering on the brink of insanity. His only hope for redemption is the voice in his head, the voice of his dead wife. Stumbling through dark vortexes of murderous intrigue, he comes to realize his visions will either kill him or lead to the capture of a killer-maybe more than one.

Author Comments – “Like a good movie, I want readers visualizing the mystery, living in the characters' skins, savoring the story's twists and turns, keeping them guessing until the end.”

"People love a good mystery book. And in today's turbulent times, there's no shortage of raw material."

“I strive to expose crime for what it is, exploring all aspects of the human condition and the often bizarre reactions of people coping with crime's devastation.”

"My job, as I see it, is to surprise you—weave a mysterious tale . . . more entertaining than you are expecting."

Review: Received an e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An excellent tale that I enjoyed reading. The protagonist, Lance, is a quirky, washed up, down and out photographer who earns his meager living via taking photos of the crime scenes for a newspaper organization. It's not because he's not a good photographer; in fact, he is "very good" at his profession. It's because he has had personal problems such as the death of his wife, Sonja. He's finding the struggle to continue living alone without her to be unbearable. However, his unique psychic ability to communicate with people from the Other Side is what, in the long run, assists him to get back the ambition to live again. Sonja, his late wife, aids him in this struggle from an otherworldly place, by directly communicating with Lance and helping him to cope with the heartaches. Finally, he's able to fully accept his unique ability by utilizing his talent to help solve crimes which otherwise would go unsolved and allow the heinous murderers to get away with their unspeakable crimes.

Lance's "boss", a reporter who hired him for the crime scene photos, believes in Lance's artistic talent. Her genuine belief in Lance and her friendship helps him to remain hopeful and to desire making something of himself. She lends him the strength to believe in himself, his psychic talent, and indeed, his photographic talent as well.

There weren't any major reader bumps in this tale which often muddle the story by awkwardness or forcing the reader to go back and re-read something. I thought it was very smooth flowing and easy to follow, with vivid descriptions that made the crime scenes stand out in my imagination. I couldn't help but wish that there are people like Lance in our world, someone with unique talents, that can help as he does. I liked how it kept me guessing and when it came together, all the pieces clicked nicely. I thought this was a fun, gruesome, who-done-it mystery whose plot moved quickly. I look forward to more Lance Underphal mysteries!

Blog Tour: DiSemblance by Shanae Branham--with review, excerpt, and giveaway!

Tour Schedule

DiSemblance

Jason Tanner’s life has always been different from the ordinary citizen’s. It started when he was an infant and his parents were only teenagers. A computer science prodigy, Lloyd attended MIT but left a pariah in the eyes of the school’s dean—but a computer physics genius in the eyes of his primary investor. Then his theories and ideas created a holographic machine and their world shrunk as contact with the outside world became less and less frequent. A computer prodigy now himself, Jason is about to learn that the world never waits for you if you have the ability to change it: it will come for you.

Detective Bruce Durante has been handed the case of the Comfort Killer, a serial killer so named because he appears to abduct terminally ill patients before returning their corpses to their families in refrigerated coffins. When he picks up the trail, it leads straight to the home of Lloyd Tanner.

Jason has been living life through the world of Lloyd’s invention and wishing he could carry on a relationship with Boston, the beautiful girl next door. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, he is brought back to reality in a hurry. He is forced to destroy all of the planted evidence—and finds he is being targeted as the killer’s new fall guy. But the secrets of his father’s invention run deep and Jason, his brother Isaac,Boston, the Comfort Killer, and Detective Durante hurtle towards one another on a deadly collision course that leaves everyone’s life hanging in the balance.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

A_TiffyFit's Review: I don't even know how to label this book. It's sci-fi, it's contemporary, it's a detective/crime/thriller, and, it's awesome. Just awesome! I want a holodeck of my very own! How amazing would it be to have one?! Ahhhhh to this quasi-trekkie, that would be better than discovering true tribbles!
The beginning seems a little bit slow in comparison to the rest of the book, but only because the rest of the book FLIES. Jason comes across as so much older at times that you really forget that he's a scared kid. A brilliant kid, but still a kid. And Isaac...Isaac is damaged by his dad's invention, which only worsens at the end. After a thrilling adventure following Jason and Detective Durante, the bad guy is caught, the victims given peace, and there is a whole slew of side story angles Shanae Branham could go with. I really liked Bruce & Lisa's story and his solution at trying to get back on track with their marriage. I can't wait for the next book to see what lies in store for Jason, Boston, Isaac and Detective Durante! 

Author Shanae Branham

I am a professional writer with a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and a minor in grammar. I have also attended several years of classes and workshops in screenplay writing at the Los Angeles Screenplay writer’s Expo.

I love suspense thrillers and am a master at plot and character development. I enjoy stories with happy endings. I promise all my readers that when they put one of my books down or walk away from one of my movies, they will be enthused with excitement and joy. This does not mean there will not be some sad parts, because you have to feel the bitter in order to understand the sweet. In fact, I have struggled with Dyslexia my whole life, so you can imagine how overjoyed I was when DiSemblance won a Silver metal in the fantasy/science fiction category at the eLit awards in 2012.

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 9/16/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR: JUSTICE by Jennifer Harlow ---Review & Giveaway

Click to add to your Goodreads TBR!

Justice
Book One of The Galilee Falls Trilogy
Jennifer Harlow
Genre: Urban Fantasy (Superhero)
Publisher: Devil on the Left Books
Date of Publication:  5/13
ISBN: 978-0-9893944-0-6 ebook
ISBN: 978-0-9893944-1-3 print
ASIN: B00CTY1QZ8

Cover Artist: Damonza

Book Description:

It’s hard being a regular police officer in Galilee Falls, a city with the highest concentration of superheroes and villains in the country. It’s even harder watching your best friend, the man you’re secretly in love with your whole life, planning to marry another woman. Detective Joanna Fallon has to contend with both. When the vilest supervillain in the city’s history, Alkaline, the former crime boss who can shoot acid from his wrists, escapes from the maximum security prison, the whole city is gripped by panic.

Leading the pursuit is Captain Harry O’Hara, Joanna’s boss and secret lover, and the city’s champion superhero Justice, who caught the villain last time, much to Joanna’s chagrin. Before her father was murdered in a mugging twenty years earlier, Joanna worshiped the hero, but when he disappeared and failed to save her father, that adoration turned to contempt for all supers.

After Alkaline attacks too close to home and targets Joanna as his next victim, tough-as-nail Joanna has to contend with her increasing fear while struggling to choose between her life-long crush and her new-found love.

At turns vulnerable and fierce, equally mordant and winsome, Joanna is an earnest yet emotionally damaged heroine, who despite the tough breaks of her childhood sees the good in people and vow to protect her beloved city at all costs. An ass-kicking petite firecracker with no superpowers of her own, she charges after supervillains unflinchingly, never losing her wit even when facing her toughest fight. With a coy blend of whimsy and vivid imagination, she delivers both humor and thrills in an action-packed and edgy blend of comic book cool, fantasy-noir, and bitter-sweet romance.

A_TiffyFit's Review

In all honesty, I can't sum it up better than the blurb. I was so excited to see the invite to the tour and even more excited to land it. You see...I love super heroes. I love them flawed, I love them gritty, I love them shining and perfect. I love a tough cookie heroine who shows signs of vulnerability and yet musters on. This book did not disappoint me. Entertaining, sweet, action-filled, and wonderful from the dedication: Dedicated to anyone who saw injustice and had the strength to say, “Not on my watch.” to the very last page, which is not a cliffhanger ending, and yet you want more. If asked what I thought at the very end of the book,  I would answer you, "Mmm. MORE!"

For anyone who has ever been in love with their best friend, you sympathize with Joanna. You do, despite some of the pettiness. You don't just sympathize, you empathize. Happy your best friend is happy, annoyed at the love of his/her life that should've been you. Through a few chapters, you see the lovely messiness of human emotions, the entanglements we weave for ourselves, the love we close ourselves off to without even realizing it, and then the pain that tears us open, able to hold even more love. 

But this isn't a romance; it just has some romance in it. This is a super-hero book. Okay, technically a super vigilante, at least according to Jo. But if superheros are sworn in as deputies, then they're no longer vigilantes, right?! 

The secret identity is not so secret and quite obvious from the first few pages, the first SCENE really where you see a couple glance at one another. I found it obvious. And I found a certain someone's completely obliviousness funny. 

Vividly written, I could practically see this novel unfold in my head like a wonderful comic. A graphic novel version would be amazing, however, I'd really like books two and three in the Galilee Falls trilogy first! I snorted at some parts, teared up at others, nodded along, cheered when the character did what I wanted her to do, and was happy that they were prepared for the inevitable. 

There are well-placed hints and yes, you could call some of the plot predictable. For me, it in no way damaged my enjoyment. I kept reading and loved it. 

About the Author:

Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator.

Currently she calls Northern Virginia home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time, she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.

She is the author of the Amazon Best-Selling  F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad and Midnight Magic Series. For the soundtracks to her books visit www.jenniferharlowbooks.com.

http://www.jenniferharlowbooks.com

http://blog.jenniferharlowbooks.com  Tales From the Darkside Blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jenharlowbooks

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.harlow.52

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4708453.Jennifer_Harlow

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jenharlowbooks/

Excerpt:
“‘Can you be so cruel?’
‘Yes, I can be very cruel. I have been taught by masters.’”
-Paramount Picture’s The Heiress (1949)

Prologue
The wolves are at the gate.
I count thirty police officers on my security monitors, including SWAT, all armed to the gills led by him. I always knew this day would come. It has been almost twenty years in the making, but now it’s here…this must have been how Nero felt as he played that fiddle. My Rome is burning. Soon my freedom will be gone and yet I could still manage a tune.  First things first.
Waverly, one of my loyal employees these two years, runs into the study. His fear does not inspire confidence. “Sir, what are we supposed to do? The police and—”
“Stop sniveling for one,” I say, taking a sip of my Scotch. I will miss this.
“Did Grace—”
The bullet I put between his eyes stops the rest of that sentence. I don’t have time to answer a million questions. Company’s coming. I down the rest of my drink as I run the electromagnet over my computer. Cleaner than the day I bought it. Must leave things tidy. I’ve already set the timers in the file cabinets. Thirty more seconds before, like Nero, all that remains of my empire is ashes.
The bombs detonate as I walk down the hall, no louder than gunshots but still rocking the walls sprinkling dust on my paintings. I wonder what will happen to my art. Probably sold for victim reparations. The Degas alone will cover the cost of the library we destroyed today. Smith and Rees are waiting in what is left of my living room. Just looking at it, especially what’s left of Bradley under that bloody sheet, I feel embarrassed for myself. I never lose control like that. I don’t know what I was thinking. I suppose I’m paying the price now.
“Sir, where do you want us?” Smith, a five year veteran of my service, asks.
I turn over the couch with a sigh. “Gentlemen, I want to thank you both for your loyal service through the years. You have both been invaluable. I wish things could have gone a different way. I apologize.” I fire a single shot into Smith’s forehead. Poor Rees is too shocked to even draw on me before he meets the same ending. The loose ends are no more. The rest is in the hands of the fates.
The last of my security doors fall, the sound of steel hitting marble echoing through the room. I cross my leg, wipe the speckles of dust off my costume, and put a smile on my face. The bane of my existence, the man I hate, who has consumed my life for years, super-speeds into my living room as if he owns it. And the press calls me arrogant.
“Alkaline,” he says beneath that dark mask.
“Justice,” I say with a nod. We stare at each other for a few seconds, even now locked in battle. “Grace?”
“She’s safe. You can’t hurt her or anyone else ever again.” He pauses for dramatic effect, or to savor his victory. “Will this be easy or hard?”
For a moment, I consider an attack. It always gives me almost orgasmic pleasure when my fist hits his body and he cries out in pain. One last taste for the road? No, I quell this urge. My body has not completely healed from our fight a few hours ago and quite frankly, I need a break. Being the scourge of the city is exhausting. “You may take me to jail now.”
As I’m led out past the frightened police and gawking bystanders, I keep that smile on my face. Not because I’m arrogant, not to save face, because…I may have lost this battle, but the war has just begun.
Then Rome will truly burn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Day 6 of 6 D.N. Simmons The Knights of the Darkness Chronicles: UNHOLY ALLIANCE

Congratulations! And thank you for following me along on this journey of reading the entire series in one week! If you couldn't tell already, I TOTALLY enjoyed this paranormal series. It was sexy, it was gritty, it was horrifying, it was gory, it was heart-warming, and I think that Simmons did a fabulous job of capturing different aspects of "humanity." 

The giveaway will be listed at the bottom of course, per usual, and before I get into the book's synopsis and my review, I've neglected to tell you in all of these posts about D.N. Simmons. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I was born in the little, but big bustling city of Chicago, Illinois. I still live there today and I’m loving every second of it ... Except for those harsh cold winters. I started writing short horror stories when I was eleven years old. It wasn't until 2004 that I decided to take the plunge into the professional literary world when I wrote Desires Unleashed.

I love the supernatural world; I've always found it fascinating, especially vampires and shape-shifters. It was my love of the genre that motivated me to create the story I had always wanted to read. I published it, hoping there were other people out there who would be entertained by that same story. I love to entertain people, to offer them that fantasy world they can escape into filled with wonders and good times. I know I appreciate the escapism I've delved into when reading a good book.

Some of the accolades I've won for my writing are: "New Voice of Today" by A Romance Review, "Rising Star" by Love Romance and "Author of the Month" by Warrior of Words. I've been nominated two years in a row in several categories, including "best vampire novel" and "best urban-fantasy" at Love Romance and More. My third novel; The Royal Flush did win honorable mention in 2006.

Some of the accolades I've won for my writing are: "New Voice of Today" by A Romance Review, "Rising Star" by Love Romance and "Author of the Month" by Warrior of Words. I've been nominated two years in a row in several categories, including "best vampire novel" and "best urban-fantasy" at Love Romance and More. My third novel; The Royal Flush did win honorable mention in 2006.

To find out even more about me, please click on the links below.

D.N.’s Website | D.N.'s Blog | D.N. on Facebook

 D.N. on Twitter | D.N. on Goodreads

Also, here is the list of the other AMAZING bloggers on this tour! Stop by, say hello, see what they have to say about this incredibly sexy, visceral series:

5/31 - Cocktails and Books

http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/blog-tour-series-spotlight-giveaway-knights-of-the-darkness-d-n-simmons/

6/02- Mad Hatter Reads (interview & review book 1)

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

 6/05- Bookin' It Reviews (guest post & series spotlight)

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

6/05- Lily Pond Reads

http://lilypondreads.blogspot.com/

6/07- My Reading Obsession (spotlight & review - book 1)

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/

6/14- My Reading Obsession (spotlight & review - book 2)

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/

6/20- Larissa's Bookish Life (guest post & review of series)

http://www.larissaslife.com/

6/21- My Reading Obsession (spotlight & review - book 3)

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/

6/22- GraveTells (guest post)

http://gravetells.com/

6/28- My Reading Obsession (spotlight & review - book 4)

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/

7/01- Tiffy-Fit  (spotlight & review - book 1)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

7/02- Tiffy-Fit  (spotlight & review - book 2)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

7/03- Tiffy-Fit  (spotlight & review - book 3)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

7/04- Tiffy-Fit  (spotlight & review - book 4)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

7/05- My Reading Obsession (spotlight & review - book 5)

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/

7/05- Tiffy-Fit  (spotlight & review - book 5)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

7/06- Tiffy-Fit  (spotlight & review - book 6)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

7/07- I Smell Sheep (Series spotlight & review - book 1)

http://www.ismellsheep.com/

7/08- Wicked Readings by Tawania (series spotlight & review - all 6 books)

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

7/09- Froggarita's Bookcase (interview & review - book 1)

http://www.froggaritasbookcase.com/

7/10- Crystals Random Thoughts 

http://www.crystalsrandomthoughts.com/

7/11- Book Monster Reviews

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

7/12- My Reading Obsession (spotlight & review - book 6)

http://4myreadingobsession.blogspot.com/

7/15- Close Encounters (spotlight & review - book 1)

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

7/16- Book Lovin' Mamas (interview, series spotlight and reviews - all 6 books)

http://booklovinmamas.blogspot.com/

7/16- Close Encounters (spotlight & review - book 2)

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

7/17- Close Encounters (spotlight & review - book 3)

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

7/18- Close Encounters (spotlight & review - book 4)

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

7/19- Close Encounters (spotlight & review - book 5)

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

7/20- Close Encounters (spotlight & review - book6)

http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/

And now, book six UNHOLY ALLIANCE and what I thought of it! :) 

The Final Chapter of the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will leave you breathless!

Picking up the chaos from where The Lion's Den left off, Unholy Alliance unleashes a whole new threat to everyone’s existence. It’s the calm before the storm and once the storm hits, you’ll have to pray and hope you survive. New alliances will be formed that will reshape the world with the blood of the innocent. There will be nowhere to hide, there will be no sanctuary. Who will stop them? Can they be stop? Hold on to your seats and prepare for one hell of a ride!

Original, sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness

Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget!

Purchase now:  Amazon | B&N

A_TiffyFit's Review: Picking up right where we left off in THE LION'S DEN, I think that this was the most emotionally charged book of the series. It's the final chapter, it's a culmination of all of our favorite characters. It's about protecting those you love. We meet the most powerful vampires in existence, the Founts, the original seven and hear their origination story as they are gathering to fight against one another to save the human race. Natasha is kidnapped again, infected with the virus killing off the human race, molested, and then returned ill. Xavier will do anything to save Darian. Darian will do anything to save Xavier, his Chosen One. Kysen will do anything to protect the heart of his Chosen One, Darian, and so forth as we meet stronger and stronger vampires. 

The Founts, with the exception of one, are annoying, arrogant, and everything you expect from a being as old as they each are. I suppose after so many millenia of watching petty human jealousies work their way out, you, too, would be selfish, jaded, and cynical. And then to be the ONLY female Fount? Yeah, Irikara is a bitch alright! I like the wake up call for humans, especially as their general attitudes are ones that we would encounter on a day to day basis in our own lives: arrogant, asinine, petty, and disingenuous. That is our reality, unfortunately, and only a handful are like Natasha: genuine, cares for fellow man, demonstrates integrity, etc. 

There are only a few glitches throughout the series that readers may "trip" over: a handful of spelling/grammar errors (wretched vs retched, son vs sun, etc). and then colloquallisms and speech patterns that are regional based. Natasha and Devin's "voices" and slang made me stumble a few times. These errors over the course of six books can be counted on your hands without using all of your fingers, so they are easily overlooked. 

This was a very satisfying series, focusing on different players while keeping a central theme. I really loved it and totally loved having all the books at once to read consecutively. Fight sequences as well as every conversation are written so vividly without bogging you down with minutia that it was like watching a movie play in my head. In fact, this would make a brilliant television drama series, appealing to vampire junkies and shifter junkies alike.  

If this isn't on your TBR yet, it should be! 

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR: Day 5 of 6, D.N. Simmons Knights of the Darkness Chronicles: THE LION'S DEN

The Lion's Den (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles #5)

Darian, Elise and Xander have been through very rough times in the past, but nothing has prepared them for the menace that is causing all kinds of havoc in their territory this time around. Chicago is at the mercy, or lack thereof, of a ruthless gang of supernaturals who seem to take extreme pleasure in other people's pain. In this game of cat and mouse, there's no way to tell who's the predator and who's the prey.

Purchase now:  Amazon | B&N

A_TiffyFit's Review:

I think this is the most action packed of the 5 I have read so far! This one has a vicious, ancient vampire named Marcus and his coven, including a shifter lover. As we know now from the previous novels, drinking a master’s blood imbues some of his strength into you, enhancing whatever powers you may already have, whether shifter, vampire, or human. It worked to strengthen Natasha’s visions, it worked to strengthen Darian’s will so he could now see sunrise and sunset despite his “younger” age (compared to the ancients, younger).

Warning: There are horrific crimes in this novel. If you can’t stand watching Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, you will have a hard time with some scenes in this book. It is, unfortunately, true to life with the horrors that monsters force upon others, and some of it was really hard to read. Mutilation, rape, & murder of both adults and children.

The book starts off with Natasha’s pregnancy cravings and her asking Xavier and Darian to get her a juicy burger. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this is baby numero dos! I love how we get to see the every day lives of these characters: from Natasha’s nesting and cravings to how the two vamps spoil her to Christopher, the newest vamp, working in the club and learning about being a vampire, to Warren & Matthew’s daily job. Warren’s shock as Marshall asks if he was the one to turn Matthew was adorable! “No! Wait…you knew about me?!”

This one starts off with the crime and it is horrific. A shifter is murdered, flayed, and dumped on the door step of Desires Unleashed. From there, more and more crimes pop up faster and faster, forcing the captain of the S.U.I.T. unit to bring in reinforcements much to the dismay, and then later relief, of Warren.

The new coven on the scene is terrifying and terrorizing the citizens of Darian’s territory. Wickedly strong, horrific, evil, and smart, Marcus’s coven and Marcus himself are wreaking havoc. Lives are lost, not just the victims of the murders, but also during the fights: coven, pride, and pack lose members. We have a new shifter pack alliance, and really they are the reason why the coven is here, not that it makes it solely their fight alone.

It’s intense! D.N. Simmons kept me up late at night, turning my pages, wanting resolution, cheering them on during the fight, and finally…when it’s finished, there is another problem. And how does the book end? With this:

To Be Continued.
Oh yeah! … I ended this on a cliffhanger, baby!
Love ya!
D.N.

*jaw drops* GEEEEZ. Okay! I get it! Onto the final book in the series! UNHOLY ALLIANCE

Tune in tomorrow to see how this story ends...well as much as I'm willing to give away anyway ;) 

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR Day 1 of 6: D.N. Simmons THE KNIGHTS OF THE DARKNESS Chronicles Book One: DESIRES UNLEASHED

This week on the Reading Corner is nothing but the gritty, sexy, paranormal world of D.N. Simmons KNIGHTS OF THE DARKNESS series! Today is the opening book to the series: DESIRES UNLEASHED and you're about to meet Darian, Xavier, Natasha, Warren, Matthew, Elise, Sergio, and a host of other cats, wolves, and vamps who are all amazing!

Desires Unleashed is the first novel in the riveting, highly-addictive and sexually-charged Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. Experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this electrifying page-turner as you uncover the mystery behind the series of gruesome killings that have been terrorizing the citizens of Chicago. When a grisly decapitated corpse pops up on a Chicago Street, drained of blood, the highly-trained, government-funded special police force assigned two of their best detectives to the case. S.U.I.T. Detectives Warren Davis and Matthew Eric delve deep into their investigation to discover just who or what is leaving mutilated bodies in public places. They soon realize that the killer or killers is one step ahead of them and if they are going to stop the menace before another innocent human is viciously attack, they are going to need help. Natasha Hemingway liked her life just the way it was... normal and supernatural-free. The vampires and shape-shifters were just where she wanted them to be--far away from her. All was going well until an unfortunate accident landed her in the hospital. It was then that she discovered she had an ability that could help her save countless lives. All of a sudden, she finds herself thrust into the dangerous and alluring world of the supernatural and into the arms of two very sexy and deadly vampires. Original, gritty and sprinkled with just the right amount of humor and wit, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget. You don't want to miss out on this amazing series! This book has been previously published and has been substantially revised from its original release.

Purchase now for $0.99:  Kindle| Nook

A_TiffyFit's Review:  

Adjectives to describe the genre or what is in this book: Paranormal, crime/detective, with sexual situations (M/M, M/F), shifter, vampire, werewolves, urban fantasy

Wowza. Really, where do I start? I’m trying to make sense of my notes! This is a re-release after a re-edit by the author to correct grammatical mistakes and errors, etc. The author’s note tells you that in the beginning. There are no gross errors in this novel that throw you out of the (sacred) Reader Zone. 

Warning: This book does deal with detectives trying to solve a gruesome murder case. If well-described gory scenes are not your thing, you’re going to have to skim those parts. Also, there are sex scenes of various natures, including M/M and M/F. This is definitely an adult-themed book with machinations of politics, violent crime, sex, and the grittiness of life.

This is the first novel in the series, however, so I was prepared for a ton of info-dumping. And it’s there, but this is info-dumping done RIGHT. There are full explanations, it’s told to us through conversations with questions and answers from characters, through different points of view from different characters. At first, it feels as if this is more than one story, and it is as we’re getting the different viewpoints. Unlike some other novels I have read that have shifting points of view, these transitioned seamlessly as a part of the storyline. Warren and Matthew are detectives in Chicago’s S.U.I.T. division (Supernatural Unit Investigative Team).

Vampires and shifters have been “outed” to the human population, and S.U.I.T. was the government answer to keeping everyone under control as much as they are able. Warren Davis is a natural-born werewolf. His partner, Matthew Eric, knows he is a werewolf, but it’s a secret they keep. While vamps and shifters are out, it’s not necessarily accepted. This bothers me (not the book or the plot line, but the human behavior). Simmons nails it: humans would not be able to tolerate the “difference” and therefore vampires/shifters/others are not granted full human benefits, especially when it comes to breaking the law. Humans trying to keep up with the supernatural have come up with their own defenses for law enforcement to use against misbehaving supernaturals: UV gel bullets, silver nitrate bullets, exploding bullets, and a pretty cool car that turns into a sunshine oven if they have an unruly vamp in the back seat. O.O 

So, you meet the two detectives as they’re called in for a gruesome case. Through meeting them, you get the story behind Warren’s pack and Alpha, Xander. Next, we meet Natasha Hemingway, and her roommate Annette Balfour. Annette is a stripper at the vampire owned DESIRES UNLEASHED and Natasha is job hunting. I wasn’t sure I was going to like Natasha. The description of her is of a sweet , caring woman who was taught to try and help others when she can, but then she’s incredibly prejudiced against supernaturals, even referring to them as “scum.” So much for that bleeding heart? Luckily, she redeems herself in my eyes through the book. 

I really liked the interactions and repartee of the characters, especially Natasha who seems to say exactly what is on her mind. You’ll like it, too. Simmons nails that friendly banter you have with your best friend and the joking that comes smoothly only after years of friendship. 

The connection of Annette & Natasha to DESIRES UNLEASHED leads us to the introduction of the vampires: Darian & Xavier. Despite Natasha’s discomfort and desire to avoid the supernatural, it turns out she just can’t. After an accident lands her and Annette in the hospital, a visit from Annette’s boss, Xavier, brings Natasha onto his radar, and therefore onto Darian’s. Natasha learns that the medication she has been taking for over 20 years isn’t for migraines as she believed, but rather to suppress dreams. Those dreams lead her to call the police about the murders in the city, and she is connected to Warren Davis. And TAHDAH there are your connections from character to character. 

So now that we have the basic plot and all the characters, what did I think? (You know I’m not giving you more information on the plot: I don’t do the whole spoiler thing! You’re just gonna have to read to find out what happens!) I think this book is a must-read for the paranormal + crime/detective + erotic sex scene loving reader. 

Paranormal: you got vampires, shifters (so far wolves and leopards), and psychics/visionaries (Natasha). 

Crime/detective: there are murders to be solved and the detectives are hunky, intelligent, and NON-CONDESCENDING. Seriously, I hate when someone goes in and the detectives treat them like they’re crazy. I really liked how Warren & Matthew took Natasha seriously from the get-go, without having a long period of time where she HAS to convince them. 

The Sex: What’s great about the sex in this book is that it doesn’t take over the whole novel; instead it works seamlessly into the plot, demonstrating the emotions of the characters, while giving you the reader a little thrilling voyeurism. There is M/M sex, M/F sex, and discussions of future trios (M/F/M). 

I liked the references to pop culture, our history, etc., that are ours but not ours. Al Cantone instead of Al Capone, Dave Lapelle Show instead of the Dave Chapelle Show, Solex watch instead of a Rolex, etc. Often, little twists like that can go awry, but here it made me view this world as …a parallel dimension to ours. It’s our world, but it’s not our world. Really well done. 

Can I be done talking now about this book? Because you see…you’re kinda holding me up for the next one. *winks at you* Come back tomorrow to check out my review of the second book in the KNIGHTS OF THE DARKNESS CHRONICLES, The Guilty Innocent.


Giveaway!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

D.N. Simmons THE KNIGHTS OF THE DARKNESS CHRONICLES presented by BOOK MONSTER PROMOTIONS

Hello, friends! 

I had a unique opportunity to read and review AN ENTIRE SERIES as part of the tour for D.N. Simmons KNIGHTS OF THE DARKNESS CHRONICLES! Yup. The WHOLE series! Do you think I was jumping up and down? Damn straight! :) Paranormal, crime/thriller, sexiness? /swoon

The series is D.N. Simmons's THE KNIGHT OF THE DARKNESS CHRONICLES and the reviews start TOMORROW, Monday, July 1st. Each day this week, I'll feature the books in order with my review of each. 

I hope you join me! There is an awesome giveaway going on with this tour and I'm so excited to be participating! 

This tour is organized by BOOK MONSTER PROMOTIONS