#MiniBlogBlitz Inside Voices by Sarah Davis

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Inside Voices by Sarah Davis.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win a $15 Amazon Giftcard (Open INT)

About the Author

Sarah Davis is many things...wife, mother, veterinarian, writer. An avid reader, she enjoys stories that transport her into new and exciting lands. Having read more books than she could ever count, she has considered writing a novel for ages. It wasn't until the idea for "Inside Voices" popped into her mind that she finally started pursuing that dream, with much encouragement from her family. She and her incredible husband share their remote home on the prairie with their three extraordinary children and one mostly human Weimaraner. 

Follow @SarahDavisAuth1 on Twitter, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Facebook Author page, Facebook personal page, Instagram pennyosborn, Instagram sarahdavis, Visit sarahdavisauthor.com, Buy Inside Voices

About the book

The mind is a strange beast...extraordinary, unpredictable, protective. 

Penny Osborn's mind is no exception. In High School, Penny witnessed a massacre and lost her father to the same killers. She had seen it unfold before it happened, in a premonition, but could not prevent it. 

A college research project at the edge of the Arctic is her chance for a new beginning. Struggling with PTSD, Penny's therapy includes running, dogs, and guitars. Yet her fresh start is plagued by new premonitions, dark and foreboding, that coincide with a rising number of murders in the community. Her visions are vague, offering little to identify the killer. 

When confronted with an orphaned polar bear cub, Penny risks everything to save its life. The deepening mystery of the murdered women, coupled with the exhaustive duties of caring for the small cub, draw her closer to her friend, Noah, and further from her sister. 

Fearful for the serial killer's next target, Penny discovers where her physical abilities can help her. 

Will letting go of the past lead to healing? And can she stop the murders? 

Review

When Penny becomes embroiled in a tragedy as a young girl it sets the tone for the rest of her life. If it wasn't for her strong bond with her twin sister, which seems to be linked to psychic-like abilities, she would not only have been a victim herself, but also not able to intervene in further tragedies.

Aside from the clear repercussions the massacre has on Penny, as she gets older and moves on with her life, I felt as if there was a lost opportunity there. The story goes straight from the event in a short chapter with young Penny to the older Penny, who is still coming to terms with the atrocity. That initial introduction to Penny, her abilities, her connection to her sister and the absolute horror of the event could be a story unto itself and not just a footnote in her history.

As the story develops and the truth unfolds there is this realisation of greater depth, both emotionally and from a plot perspective, which I personally found quite intriguing. It also leaves a lot of space for unanswered questions and possibly a prequel to the story.

I think Davis has some great ideas that all want to come out and play at the same time, so it's maybe a question of focus and direction. Is it a story about someone who is grief stricken enough to reach another level of perception or is it a story about a woman who can see beyond the constructs of our norms and boundaries.

Buy Inside Voices at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: darkstroke/crooked cat; pub date 23 Jun. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

Enter the Giveaway to Win a $15 Amazon Giftcard (Open INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*

#BlogBlitz The Unquiet Spirit by Penny Hampson

Today it's the Blog Blitz for The Unquiet Spirit by Penny Hampson.

About the Author
Some time ago Penny Hampson decided to follow her passion for history by studying with the Open University. She graduated with honours and went on to complete a post-graduate degree.

Penny then landed her dream role, working in an environment where she was surrounded by rare books and historical manuscripts. Flash forward nineteen years, and the opportunity came along to indulge her other main passion – writing. Penny joined the New Writers’ Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and  three years later published her debut novel, A Gentleman’s Promise, a  historical mystery/romance. Other books in the same genre soon followed.

But never happy in a rut, Penny also writes contemporary suspense with paranormal and romantic elements. Her first book in this genre is The Unquiet Spirit, published by Darkstroke.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time). For more on Penny’s writing, visit her blog: pennyhampson.co.uk/blog/

Follow @penny_hampson on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Buy The Unquiet Spirit

About the book
A new beginning. A house with a past. A man with secrets. It was a dream come true…that turned into a nightmare.

Kate Wilson thinks moving back to Cornwall might be the answer to her prayers. But it isn’t long before she begins to have doubts. Is the house she inherited from her godmother haunted? Or is she going out of her mind? With a stalker, threats, and attempted break-ins, Kate’s troubles multiply.

Then there’s her enigmatic neighbour, the brooding Tom Carbis; a man with secrets he doesn’t wish to share. Can she trust him when he says he wants to help? In her quest to unravel the mysteries surrounding her, will Kate uncover more than she bargains for?

Review

Kate isn't expecting to inherit anything from her godmother Win, so when she inherits an entire house in Cornwall it's comes as a surprise, but not exactly a bad one. She is already spooked because she thinks someone is following her in her hometown, and multiple break-ins in her new home do nothing to alleviate her worries.

Her broody neighbour with the overly friendly dog doesn't make her feel more at ease. She is afraid of dogs and her last relationship was a bit of a disaster. They can both keep their distance as far as she is concerned, but somehow they both seem to insert themselves in her life every chance they get.

Hmm it's a question of tread lightly or give all the secrets away. This is a story of ghosts and the paranormal, but Hampson also has a strong sub-plot that plays alongside the ghost story. An important one, which tends to be silenced by the stigma surrounding it. Shame, guilt and embarrassment keeps the victims who suffer in the darkness. To admit is equal to being considered weak.

I liked the way the author approached this, by creating a character who is at first glance abrupt, rude and not very likeable. It's an interesting way of showing the barriers and walls that are constructed to protect and heal, and how they are viewed from the outside by someone with no prior information about said person.

It's an intriguing combination of mystery, ghost story and even a murder thrown in for free. It doesn't stop there though because Hampson also adds a note of romance to the mixture.

Buy The Unquiet Spirit at Amazon Uk go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher : Crooked Cat / darkstroke; pub date 21 Aug. 2020. Buy at Amazon com.

#BlogTour Dead is Beautiful by Jo Perry

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Dead is Beautiful by Jo Perry. It's an interesting combination of paranormal and crime fiction with a noirish vibe.

About the Author
Jo Perry earned a Ph.D. in English, taught college literature and writing,  produced and wrote episodic television, and published articles,  book reviews, and poetry.

She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, novelist Thomas Perry.    They have two adult children. Their two dogs are rescues.

Jo is the author of Dead is Better, Dead is Best, Dead is Good and Dead is Beautiful, a dark, comic mystery series from Fahrenheit Press.

Follow @JoPerryAuthor on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Goodreads, Visit authorjoperry.com, Buy Dead is Beautiful

About the book
Dead is Beautiful finds Rose leading Charlie from the peace of the afterlife to the place he hates most on earth, “Beverly Fucking Hills,” where a mature, protected tree harboring a protected bird is being illegally cut down.

The tree-assault leads Charlie and Rose to a murder and to the person Charlie loathes most in life and in death, the sibling he refers to only as “his shit brother,” who is in danger.

Charlie fights-across the borders of life and death–for the man who never fought for him, and with the help of a fearless Scotsman, a beautiful witch, and a pissed-off owl, Charlie must stop a cruel and exploitative scheme and protect his beloved Rose.

Review
This is the fourth book in the Charlie and Rose Investigates series, but this can absolutely be read as a standalone novel.

I have to admit the beginning reads like some mixture between an environmental activism plot meets the paranormal world. I was distracted by the whole nakedness issue. Eleanor tries to save both tree and owl whilst her boobs are dangling in the wind and Charlie is eyeing up her assets. That whole scene was doubly bizarre because of the lack of clothes.

Charlie and Rose are tight and they have something in common, as much as a man and a dog can have something in common that is, they are both dead. Wandering somewhere on the ethereal plane. neither here nor there just everywhere, especially everywhere Rose thinks they need to be. Even if it is the scene of a crime about to happen and the two of them can't do anything about it. They can only watch and wait to greet the unfortunate victim.

Aside from the contentious relationship Charlie has with his brother, the relationship between Charlie and Rose is one of the most pivotal in the story, and the series. The interactions between them, albeit it lots of chat from Charlie and multiple variations of a bark from Rose, are actually quite interesting. At times it appears as if Rose is his super-ego (hello Freud, my old friend), his conscience and feeling of guilt. She leads where he is hesitant and dithers.

It's an interesting combination of paranormal and crime fiction with a noirish vibe. A read with two very intriguing sleuths, perhaps more so because they are restrained by their lack of mortal coil.

Buy Dead is Beautiful at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Published by Fahrenheit 13 in paperback and ebook formats on 13th February 2019. Buy at Amazon com. Buy at Fahrenheit Press.

#BlogBlitz Forms of Things Unknown by Elizabeth Ireland

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Forms of Things Unknown by Elizabeth Ireland. It's the third book on the Backstage Mystery series. It's a paranormal murder mystery with a nod to historical fiction.

About the Author
Elizabeth Ireland discovered her passion for theater early. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in Theater, she accepted a teaching position in a vibrant performing arts department at a college in northern Illinois. For ten years, she taught, directed and ran front-of-house operations. American Theater History—particularly that of the 19th century—has always been of particular interest to her.

She has been a quarter-finalist and a semi-finalist for the Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Two of her screenplays have been optioned, but remain unproduced. Her nonfiction work, Women of Vision: Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives, was published in 2008. Her work has also been published in a collection of paranormal short stories, Paramourtal: Tales of Undying Love and Loving the Undead. She lives in metro Atlanta with her ever-patient husband, and two quirky dachshunds.

Follow @EbethIreland on Twitter, on Facebook, on Goodreads, on Amazon, Follow Backstage Mystery on Facebook,
Buy Forms of Things Unknown

About the book
Recently returned to Chicago after a successful tour of Hamlet, Lillian Nolan is awakened in the dead of night by a strange voice. She is shocked to learn that well known and admired actress, Louise Hawthorne, has fallen to her death from the sixth floor of the Tremont House. Was it an accident? Did she jump or was she pushed? Louise’s former lover, and the main suspect, pleads with Lillian to uncover the truth and clear his name.

In the process of learning to trust her intuitive abilities, Lillian attempts to find balance between relying upon her gift and uncovering the truth in her own way. But the menace of death pursues her and soon her own life is at risk. When she finds herself in a trap from which she cannot escape, her only hope of survival is to call upon the metaphysical world.

Forms of Things Unknown is based on an actual event which occurred in June of 1876 in Chicago. It is the third standalone book in the Backstage Mystery Series.

The Backstage Mystery Series
Tagline: Life upon the wicked stage can be deadly.
Set against the backdrop of the Gilded Age, the Backstage Mystery Series stars Lillian Nolan, an unconventional member of Chicago’s upper class who dreams of a career of fortune and fame in the theater. Talented and ambitious, she possesses a hidden skill which she is extremely reluctant to use—the ability to communicate with those who have died and now live in the world of “The Beyond.”
The series chronicles her adventures in which she continually becomes enmeshed in solving mysteries which often require her accessing the realm of the paranormal. Filled with an incredible cast of characters—factual, fictional, and sometimes non-physical—who either help or hinder her quest for the truth, the stories take place during a period considered to be the golden age of both acting and spiritualism in America.

Review
You can read each book in the series as a standalone novel, but there is a nice progression in the books, as Lillian discovers her talents and tries to understand how to use them and come to terms with them.

As Lillian works her way from the past to the present - story by story of her life, her talent or gift evolves. With each new story there is a new aspect to her abilities and the dead also appear able to communicate better with her each time. It freshens up the plot each time.

This time I think Lillian becomes a little too convinced that she is the next Miss Marple. She ends up overestimating her detective skills and underestimating someone who is willing to kill anyone in their way.

This time Lillian tries to discover whether the famous actress Louise Hawthorne accidentally fell to her death or whether she was she pushed? Did her co-star have anything to do with it or is he a victim of unfortunate circumstances?

Ireland weaves a clear love for theatre and acting into this series. It gives the characters and scenes much more depth, because it feels alive and personal. The pleasure derived from entertaining others and experiencing the joy of acting. It plays a pivotal part in this series, which may seem like an obvious thing to say considering what the series is called, but backstage doesn't necessarily mean you can capture the magic.

It's a paranormal murder mystery with a nod to historical fiction. A mixture of cosy mystery with a more complex storyline weaving in and out of it.

Buy Forms of Things Unknown (Backstage Mysteries #3) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of A Walking Shadow (Backstage Mystery #1)
Read my review of Foul Deeds Will Rise ( Backstage Mystery #2)

#BlogBlitz The Raven Coven by Emma Miles

Today it's my turn on the BlogTour The Raven Coven by Emma Miles. It's paranormal fantasy with intricate world-building.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win 3 x Paperback copies of The Raven Coven (Open INT)

About the Author
Emma Miles: 'I presently live in the stunning county of Dorset where I’m a cat slave to Wolfe and Piglitt. I spend as much time as I can outside in nature and love exploring and learning about new cultures and languages. I’ve visited Greece, Serbia, Transylvania, Sicily and Norway as well as making several road trips around our beautiful United Kingdom. I paint, sculpt, dabble in photography and do a little archery but most of all – whenever I get a chance – I write.

My writing started from a very young age when I often found myself being the one taking charge of and entertaining all my younger cousins. They loved to hear my stories and although they mostly called for ghost stories it was fantasy I fell in love with when I read The Lord of the Rings when I was ten. I went on to write stories and short ‘books’ for my friends through school and college; then one evening whilst I was waiting for my aunt and uncle to visit an image came to my mind of a boy sitting beneath a bridge. I didn’t know who he was or why he was there, but from exploring those questions ‘The Wind’s Children’ trilogy blossomed and grew with roots going back into his far history as well as stretching out to his future. The boy’s name was Tobias.

I have since left Tobias's world of 'Naris' to explore the Valley with Feather in the 'Hall of Pillars' which is now available through Amazon. I am now presently finding my way through Elden, the beautiful Fulmer islands, the ravaged Borrows and haunted Chem with Kesta Silene; a shamaness of sorts with a big journey ahead of her. I hope you come along to share her story and join her adventure; she needs you and you won't regret it.'

Follow @EmmaMilesShadow on Twitter, on Facebook, on Amazon, on Goodreads,
Visit emmamilesauthor

Buy The Raven Coven

About the book
Kesta had left her heart across the sea. They were at peace, her people saved from slavery, and yet… her soul was uneasy.

Chem lies in chaos, its people suffering as a result of the death of the ruling sorcerers. Refugees flee the cursed Borrows, begging for help from those they had made their enemy. A Queen unknowingly makes a dark, deadly pact, and new powers rise to fill the seats left empty by the Dunham necromancers.

Review
This is the second book in the Fire-Walker series, and I would definitely recommend reading the first book The Raven Tower. It has quite complex world-building, a lot of storylines and characters, which may seem unclear if you don't read the first. The fact the second begins with a series of correspondence between said characters speaks even more to the need to read the first book.

Kesta makes the ultimate sacrifice by leaving the man she loves behind, but in this book it becomes clear that her sacrifice may have been a lot of hot air. Saying it is one thing, doing it is something else entirely. When she reunites with Jorrun they both realise that neither of them can bear being apart. So the trick is being able to find a way to be together, despite the opposition and obstacles.

Miles has incorporated important topics such as the oppression of women, the prejudice, fear and discrimination against those who hold elemental power and the people who appear to be the enemy. Sometimes there are grey areas, and Kesta and Jorrun have to navigate these difficulties to find a way for everyone to coexist.

It's quite interesting how the two of them find it hard to balance the fact they are powerful in their separate universes, however when one of them steps into that of the other one of them becomes less powerful, which is probably the real reason they find it hard to agree about certain matters along the way. In this case it's Kesta, because she finds it hard to be relegated to a secondary position, hence the real reason for her inability to understand her adopted nation.

It's paranormal fantasy with intricate world-building. Although Miles brings everything together at the end there is always an opening to take the story forward from that point. It has a paranormal aspect to it, however I do think this has more of a high fantasy feel to it. Again, I recommend reading the first book in the series to get the full flavour of the story.

Buy The Raven Coven (Fire-Walker #2) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win 3 x Paperback copies of The Raven Coven (Open INT)

a Rafflecopter giveaway *Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

#BlogBlitz A Walking Shadow by Elizabeth Ireland

Today it's my pleasure to take part in the BlogTour A Walking Shadow by Elizabeth Ireland. It's a murder mystery with a nod to historical fiction and interwoven with elements of the paranormal.

About the Author
Elizabeth Ireland discovered her passion for theater early. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in Theater, she accepted a teaching position in a vibrant performing arts department at a college in northern Illinois. For ten years, she taught, directed and ran front-of-house operations. American Theater History—particularly that of the 19th century—has always been of particular interest to her.

She has been a quarter-finalist and a semi-finalist for the Don and Gee Nicholl Fellowship in screenwriting sponsored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Two of her screenplays have been optioned, but remain unproduced. Her nonfiction work, Women of Vision: Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives, was published in 2008. Her work has also been published in a collection of paranormal short stories, Paramourtal: Tales of Undying Love and Loving the Undead. She lives in metro Atlanta with her ever-patient husband, and two quirky dachshunds.

Follow @EbethIreland on Twitter, on Facebook, Follow Backstage Mystery on Facebook,

Visit elizabethireland.net

Buy A Walking Shadow

About the book
In 1871, Lillian Nolan accepts a small role in Macbeth, and finally fulfills her dream of becoming an actress. That is until the renowned, but venomous, female star of the production is murdered onstage opening night. When her enraged spirit haunts the theater, Lillian is shocked to discover she can communicate with her. Offered a Faustian bargain in which she will be given talent and expertise way beyond her ability in exchange for uncovering the killer, Lillian can’t resist.

Her quest for the truth causes her to descend into the Underworld, the den of inequity below the streets of Chicago. What Lillian finds soon embroils her in a battle between her passion for performing and control over her own body as it all plays out in a supernatural game of good and evil.

About The Backstage Mystery Series
Tagline: Life upon the wicked stage can be deadly.

Set against the backdrop of the Gilded Age, the Backstage Mystery Series stars Lillian Nolan, an unconventional member of Chicago’s upper class who dreams of a career of fortune and fame in the theater. Talented and ambitious, she possesses a hidden skill which she is extremely reluctant to use—the ability to communicate with those who have died and now live in the world of “The Beyond.”

The series chronicles her adventures in which she continually becomes enmeshed in solving mysteries which often require her accessing the realm of the paranormal. Filled with an incredible cast of characters—factual, fictional, and sometimes non-physical—who either help or hinder her quest for the truth, the stories take place during a period considered to be the golden age of both acting and spiritualism in America.

Review
A young woman from a wealthy and reputable family, Rosemary, goes against the wishes of her family to pursue a career in acting, which is consider to be quite scandalous in the 1870s.

Rosemary becomes Lillian Nolan. In order to protect the reputation of her family, but it also helps to invent an alter ego of sorts who isn't expected to abide by the stringent rules of society. The myriad of oppressive rules the female gender is governed and expected to abide by.

Although this is a murder mystery it also has a flair of historical crime fiction, because the author has incorporated a lot of historical facts about theatre, actors and the acting profession into the story. It cements the storyline of Lillian, because it explains the magical pull of the profession and the superstitious nature of those in the profession.

What's also quite important is the history behind the 'reputation' female thespians used to have. Those who took to the stage were considered unsavoury, little more than disreputable women. This is the reason Lillian has to make a choice between a career on the stage or her family, because the two are incompatible.

Her decision takes on a life of its own when she becomes embroiled in a murder and subsequently makes a deal with the devil, in the shape of a ghost, to further her own ambition and to find a murderer.

I liked the approach the author took by taking the reader back in time and telling the tale as if it were a story within a story. It gives Lillian the air of telling her story as if she were performing for an audience, the theatrical side of her can't resist I suppose.

It's a murder mystery with a nod to historical fiction and interwoven with elements of the paranormal. The result is a compelling read, which has the air of literary fiction at times. Kudos to Ireland for capturing the allure, passion and drive of the acting profession. It's hard to describe the magic that happens on stage, the exhilaration and pleasure derived from the magic, but Ireland does it well.

Buy A Walking Shadow at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com.

Read my review of Foul Deeds Will Rise (Backstage Mystery #2)
Read my review of Forms of Things Unknown (Backstage Mystery #3)

#BlogTour Karma by S.C. Cunningham

Today it's the BlogTour Karma by S.C. Cunningham. It's paranormal urban fantasy with a flair of Brit attitude.

Enter the Giveaway below to Win a Signed Copy of Karma by S. C. Cunningham (Open Internationally)

About the Author
Author of The Fallen Angels Series, Cunningham creates adrenaline-charged paranormal crime rom thrillers, with a skilled mix of fuelled tension, dark humour and pulsating sex scenes. Having worked in the industries she writes about, her novels offer a fresh level of sincerity and authority, rare in fiction.

Abducted as a child she survived. Every night for months afterward she prayed to the heavens asking for a deal. This personal journey sparked the fuse behind the intriguing and riveting fictional world she portrays in The Fallen Angels Series.  First in series The Deal is free. Standalone Book II, Karma is her latest release. She is currently working on Book III, Calling.

An ex-model, British born of Irish roots, she married a rock musician and has worked in the exciting worlds of music, film, sports, celebrity management and as a Crime Investigator for the British Police (Wanted & Absconder Unit, Major Crime Team, Intelligence Analyst, Investigations Hub).

She supports Veterans, MH and Animal causes, is the proud mother to Contemporary Artist Scarlett Raven, loves coffee, chocolate, Prosecco, shabby chic'ing and beach walks, and is owned by three soul-soothing dogs.

Follow@SCCunningham8 on Twitter, on Amazon, Amazon com, on Facebook, on Instagram, LinkedIn, on Goodreads,
Visit sccunningham.com, about sccunningham, subscribe to sccunninghams page,
Buy Karma

About the book
At the age of four, Amy was taken… She survived.
A week later, another little girl was taken…She didn't.

Angry that a bad man has gotten away with murder, feisty young Amy Fox makes a deal with the heavens.  When she dies, if she’s been a good girl, would they let her sit on a cloud for a while, invisible, and get the bad people who slip through God’s fingers?

Her deal and God long forgotten, career girl Amy mysteriously dies. Her lifeless body is found beneath a London underground commuter train.

She awakens in the afterlife to discover an international network of like-minded souls who’ve all made the same deal. A sophisticated MI5-esque justice machine sits in the skies. The only evidence they leave behind during their earthly visits is a small white feather sashaying to the ground.

Amy hates rules, she may be a new Angel but for how long?  Abusing her powers, lusting after her partner, avenging personal scores, protecting the underdog, dishing out unauthorized karma on terrorists, traffickers, abusers, hunters, bullies, bitches and competing Warlords will have her thrown below ground.

In a chaotic world of vendettas, jealous ex's on her heels and powerful adversaries trying to close her Unit down, Amy has never worked so hard in her entire earthly life. She has to wonder if making the deal was a mistake.

Review
This is the second book in The Fallen Angels series. It can be read as a standalone novel, although to be completely fair the author has included plenty of information about the first book, the characters and the plot at the beginning of Karma, that it's easy to catch up on the story. (Perhaps just a wee bit much info)

The myth or folklore of the feathers or white feathers being a sign of a visit from heaven or from an angel is a widespread one. I am sure plenty of people think there is divine intervention behind every event that looks like a miracle or lucky save.

That's where Amy and her elite group of angelic interventionists (good name for them, eh?) come in. Amy and others of her ilk dispense a sort of justice among the living, but in a way that nobody notices. A whisper here, a suggestion there, a shove or an intervention at the right time. It makes all of the difference to those still in the realm of the living, and it just seems as if karma is happening.

I think every time Amy uses her powers to help someone in trouble she eases the nightmares hidden inside her. The dark dreams that rip her from sleep and keep her awake at night. Her childhood fears and the moments that determined her destiny.

It's paranormal urban fantasy with a flair of Brit attitude. It's a combo of lusty romcom and supernatural adventure written with gusto. A bawdy game of justice with every tier of the hierarchy reaching from the top of the clouds to the bottom of hell along for the ride.

Buy Karma (The Fallen Angels #2) at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Buy at Amazon com. Buy via Books2read.

FREE at the moment: Buy The Deal (The Fallen Angels #1) at Amazon UK or Amazon com

Enter the Giveaway below to Win a Signed Copy of Karma by S. C. Cunningham (Open Internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway *Terms and Conditions –Worldwide entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.*

The Awakening by Amanda Stevens

The Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens hasn't really garnered the attention it deserves over the years. I think her books sail a little under the radar.

It is a solid paranormal urban fantasy series. Stevens delivers strong characters and an interesting plot.

Amelia seems a little more susceptible to the ghosts and the evil spirits this time. Her heartbreak might be weakening her high wall of protection. She also appears to be more afraid in general. Her tough exterior is crumbling slowly like a wall of sand.

She is haunted by a young ghost and the signs of impending doom. Someone close to her is in danger, someone is going to die.

I do think The Awakening is one of the weaker books of the series. Perhaps weak is the wrong word. Hmm, the author, or rather Amelia, does a lot of contemplating in this book, so it's a slower and less eventful, as opposed to the usual action packed read.

It's unfortunately the last in the series, which might explain the nostalgic air about it. I wasn't ready to say goodbye, which is probably the real reason I found this slightly underwhelming. It just feels a little premature, but I can understand wanting to end on a high note.

I would recommend reading from the start of the series to get the full flavour and the complete back-story, although this can be read as a standalone novel.

Buy The Awakening at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Blog-Tour: Winter Halo by Keri Arthur

Today is my turn on the Blog-Tour for Winter Halo by Keri Arthur. It is the second book in the Outcast series. (The first is City of Light). Enjoy the fantastic Q&A with Keri Arthur and my review!

About the author
Keri Arthur is the New York Times bestselling author of the Outcast series, including City of Light, as well as the Souls of Fire, Dark Angels, and Riley Jenson Guardian series. She has written more than thirty books and has been nominated in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards and has won a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy.

About the book
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Souls of Fire novels comes the second in the futuristic fantasy series that will make you want to keep the lights on... When the bombs that stopped the species war tore holes in the veil between worlds, they allowed entry to the Others. Now, a hundred years later, humans and shifters alike live in artificially lit cities designed to keep the darkness at bay.... The humanoid supersoldiers known as the déchet were almost eradicated by the war. Ever since, Tiger has tried to live her life in peace in hiding. But in the wake of her discovery that Central City’s children are being kidnapped and experimented on, Tiger’s conscience won’t let her look the other way. The key to saving them lies within the walls of a pharmaceutical company called Winter Halo. But as she learns more about the facility, Tiger’s mission is derailed by a complication: Winter Halo’s female security guards are being systematically attacked by an unknown force.  Now Tiger must summon all her gifts to stop those responsible for both atrocities—no matter the cost to herself.

Q&A
Before we get down to business (i.e. talking about your book) I would like to ask a set of questions I call 'Breaking the Ice.' (readers love to get to know all about their favourite authors)
The last book you read? (Inquisitive bookworms want to know)
Anne Gracie’s The Summer Bride. I waited so long for Daisy’s story, and I loved it!

The last movie you watched, which you felt left a mark (in your heart, soul, wallet...you name it)
I recently watched Spectre on Blu-ray, and was ever so glad I missed it at the movies! I couldn’t believe how bland/blah it was. I’m a huge James Bond fan, but in this, Daniel Craig wasn’t even trying.

Are you more of a Game of Thrones or Outlander, a movie night or sitcom kind of  gal? (Combinations are possible)
I haven’t watched either Game of Thrones or Outlander, and have no intentions of ever watching the former. I do, however, love Westworld. I’m also a huge lifestyle program fan (mostly British--Great British Bake-off, Escape to the Country, Location Location, etc). I also love the Aussie versions of those shows.

Which famous person (dead, alive, barely kicking) would you most like to meet?
I’d love to have met Dick Francis, because he is one of my all time favourite authors. And for one out of left field, I would love to have met John Constable, and have him teach me how to paint just like him.

Something you treat yourself to, now and again? (Cream éclairs, doughnuts and chocolate totally count)
Shoes. Totally shoes. I have something of a fetish for them  :D

All of the above questions are actually a pretty elaborate pysch evaluation disguised as random questions. Have no fear here come the real ones. Let’s talk about Winter Halo.

I really enjoyed the mixture of genres in Winter Halo, a dystopian tale with sci-fi elements and a portion of urban fantasy. Was mixing the genres something you set out to do or did the ideas evolve as you were writing?
I’ve never been a planner when it comes to my writing. I usually set out with a vague idea and the story and setting develop from there. That’s what I love about writing--the discovery of where it’s going!

Was it your intention to get both the readers and even the characters to question the humanity of the genetically modified dechets or to be more specific questioning Tiger's humanity?
That developed as the story developed. In truth, what does make us human? Is it as simple as the nature of our birth? Is it higher brain capacity, the ability to think and feel? Or is it something more indefinable? Why are we considered human, and yet the great apes, who share something like 98% of our DNA, are not? I’m not sure The Outcast Series answers these questions, but I’d like to think it at least gets those who read it thinking about things like acceptance and tolerance. We really need a lot more people thinking about those in the current clime.

Staying with that line of questioning, Tiger was created with a specific purpose in mind, and although she acts as programmed she is also capable of acting independently. Is her initial programming the reason why she was engineered the reason some characters don't trust her or is it because she doesn't conform to their preconceived ideas of the dechet?
Most humans and shifters only ever had contact with the soldier dechets. Very few people outside the Humanoid Development Program ever knew about the existence of dechets such as Tiger, who was developed as a lure--a seductress designed to infiltrate shifter encampments and steal battle information. The other characters views are tainted by their experiences with the soldiers; they’re having to battle ingrained beliefs about what dechets are with the reality Tiger presents to them.

Tiger carries around an extreme amount of guilt about the ghosts (children). She seems to blame herself for their deaths. Is that why she is willing to go the extra mile to try and save the living children?
Yes. She’d been assigned as the children’s guardian while waiting reassignment, and she believes she failed in that duty, even though she almost died trying to save them. It’s that guilt that drives her to save Penny and Jonas, and keeps her involved in not only the quest to find the rest of the missing children, but to stop those who want to give the vampires and wraiths light immunity.

Tiger and her relationship to sex is quite an intriguing aspect of the story. Tiger uses sex to obtain information and achieve her goals. Her relationship with it is very calculated. Will we see her experience sex in a different way when and if she finally does have intercourse because she wants to and not because she has to?
I really can’t answer this question, because it would step into spoiler territory!

Will we be seeing/reading more about Tiger? If the answer is yes (hopefully) will it be soon (no pressure *laugh*)?
I’ve planned the Outcast Series as three books, so yes, there will be more of Tiger after Winter Halo. The third book is tentatively called The Black Tide, but I’m not sure when it’ll be out yet. Hopefully by the end of 2017 or beginning of 2018.

Thank you for answering all of my questions, especially the odd ones!
You’re welcome--and the odd ones were fun!

Review
Despite being a successful award winning author I don't believe Keri Arthur really gets the recognition or attention she deserves for her writing. Regardless of the genre, sub-genre or the topic, Arthur always gives her readers a run for their money.

Winter Halo, which is the second book in the Outcast series, is a perfect example of her ability to flow seamlessly from one genre to the other within the same story. It's a dystopian extravaganza with sci-fi elements and an urban fantasy flair.

It is set in a world of genetically enhanced soldiers, shifters, ghosts, vampires and perhaps a few humans. Tiger is determined to save a small group of children, who have been kidnapped with the intent of committing unimaginable atrocities.

Watch this space for the Tiger and Jonas saga, because it is definitely coming. The sexual tension between the two of them is like a volcano set to erupt. No pun intended. Okay that's a lie it's totally intended. Jonas can't help but be drawn to the feisty dechet, perhaps because she is the complete opposite of what he thinks she should be like.

Instead of hard cold reasoning there is a strong compassionate vein, and her ability to communicate with ghosts makes her seem more humane instead of like the genetically enhanced soldier she actually is.

One of the more fascinating aspects of Tiger is the way she compartmentalizes her actions, emotions and choices. Her sexual activities are sorted into boxes labelled 'a means to an end.' All business all the time. Maybe it is time she did it for herself and for the pleasure instead.

I am looking forward to the third part in this series, especially a possible Tiger and Jonas relationship. Winter Halo is an action driven read with creative ideas, intricate world-building and plenty of potential for further development.

It was, as always with a Keri Arthur book, a read I would recommend.

Buy Winter Halo at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

Readers from the US and Canada ONLY also have the fantastic opportunity to take part in a giveaway for City of Light and Winter Halo by Keri Arthur by retweeting the giveaway on Twitter. Or just comment below. (Winner will be notified at the end of the tour) Good Luck!

Starting today! Blog-Tour for Winter Halo by Keri Arthur

I am super excited to be part of the Blog-Tour for Winter Halo by Keri Arthur. It is the second book in the Outcast series. On the 30th I will be featuring a fantastic Q&A by Keri Arthur and my review of Winter Halo.

Hope to see you here on the 30th of November for my review of Winter Halo!

Buy Winter Halo at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.

It's a Wonderful Death by Sarah J. Schmitt

Poor RJ is in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up in the middle of a Grim Reaper and gypsy, who isn't ready to depart from this world. Oops you're dead.

Instead of being shocked, dismayed or upset RJ is angry and indignant. How dare the Reaper make a mistake and interrupt her busy teenage schedule. She insists on being sent back pronto.

Essentially this story is about having the chance to rectify mistakes, to take the right path instead of the wrong one and being given a second chance.

Each interaction we have with another human being moves a cog in life. Depending on which direction it moves it sets different things in motion. So it goes without saying that changing one movement or direction in one cog can change a life.

The powers that be, and there are quite a few in the Heaven/Hell/In-between station, finally decide RJ at least deserves a try at being a better person. So she gets placed back into certain situations in the hope that she will make better choices for herself and for her fellow human beings.

Schmitt lays at lot of emphasis on bullying, peer pressure and taking responsibility for your actions. The underlying message being; how each of us and our decisions can impact others. If our interactions with others are negative then perhaps we are leaving a trail of destruction behind us.

Instead of ignoring the bullied kid in the corner maybe you should talk to them. If being with the popular kids means you have to be mean to others then maybe you need to find new friends. Do you ignore it when others are being picked on? Stand up and speak out.

A strong message to young people, but wrapped within a story, which is both witty and serious at the same time.

Thank you to Edelweiss for my copy of It's a Wonderful Death.
Buy It's a Wonderful Death at Amazon UK or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.