Knight of Flame by Scott Eder ~The Review~

Title: Knight of Flame

Author: Scott Eder

Publisher: Twilight Times Books (September 14, 2013)

Genre: Romantic Fantasy

Pages: 355

Language: English

ASIN: B00F7SXQ8I

Purchase at AMAZON

Fire. The most chaotic of the primal elements. When wielded properly by the Knight of Flame, it burns like the sun. Otherwise, it slowly consumes the Knight, burning away his control, driving him towards dark deeds.

Stationed in Tampa, FL, Develore Quinteele, sixth Knight of Flame, waits impatiently for the predicted emergence of the last Gray Lord, his Order’s ancient enemy. Hampered by a centuries-old tragedy, Dev knows of only one way to control his elemental power—rage. It broils just below his surface, waiting for the slightest provocation to set it alight.

Anticipating Dev’s transition from asset to liability, his commander assigns a young guardian, Wren, to report on Dev’s actions. Torn between duty and love, Wren struggles to save her Knight; but, after a brutal attack by the Gray Lord’s minions for which Dev is wrongly blamed, he’s stripped of his freedom until he regains control.

With the help of his fellow Knights, can Dev regain his balance and unlock his full elemental potential in time to prevent the destruction of all life in Tampa?

My Opinion:

OMG!!! First I have to say..

"Mr. Eder, I had planned to read this over a few days. 

Yeah...That didn't happen!

I started reading and low and behold I finished the next morning....who needs sleep."

This book takes Mr. Eder's world to the extreme, The characters (Hotness!!!), the interaction,the twists.....AMAZING!!!

I'm at a lost for words on how I felt at the end....on one hand I was left WOW'ed, but on the other I wanted.... no, CRAVED .....MORE!!!

For this being the first installment of the knights I wonder how our AWESOME author is going to top this.

I personally will be stalking Mr. Eder as I await any inkling of the next knight!!!!

Book Excerpt:

CHAPTER ONE

    Knights don't dance, thought Develor Quinteele.  Knuckles white, he wrung the leather-wrapped steering wheel and swallowed hard.  The muted roar of the rented Jag's high-performance engine and smooth-as-silk ride did nothing to dispel his apprehension.  Wren could have picked anything, but she chose dancing.  He jammed a finger under the rigid collar of his first modern suit and yanked it away from his skin.

    Great. Just great.   

    Dev stretched to adjust the rear-view mirror and ripped the seam of his jacket.  Armani stretch wool, my ass.  A growl rumbled in his chest and he glared at Wren, but she seemed oblivious to his distress.

    "How much farther?"  Wren's excitement tumbled out with each word.  The sun's last rays reflected off the silver sequins of her micro-dress, sparkling across the car's dark chocolate interior.  She shifted position, adjusted her dress, and crossed her legs.  Despite her fidgeting, her

head remained still, focused on the distant horizon, straining to get her first look at Club Mastodon.

 

    Dev smiled through his growing unease.  Though somewhere in her early twenties, Wren reminded him of a small child driving up to the gates of Disney World for the first time.  Her usually tense and critical Asian features, soft, eager and innocent.  Seeing her excitement helped steady his nerves…a little.

    

    "Just a few more minutes.  You know I'm missing a 'Three Stooges' marathon for this, don't you?"  Dev checked his mirrors, vision in constant motion, and raked the hair out of his eyes.  The thin, wavy strands felt foreign to his calloused fingers.  He couldn't remember the last time he had more than a dark prickly shadow on top of his head, let alone mussed brown locks.   

    With a careless wave of his hand, he grazed the new bruise over his left eye.  Damn, forgot about that.  He prodded the tender skin, trying to gauge the size of the purpling evidence.  So far, he'd managed to keep his fights at work from Wren.  If she found out, he'd never hear the end of it.  The last time she went on and on about him being reckless and not following Stillman's order to keep a low profile.  Whatever.  He brushed his hair forward, trying to cover the injured area, and hoped for the best.    

  

     "This place won't be crowded, will it?"  Dev asked.  "You know crowds and I don't mix."

   

    "Mmhm."  Wren's arm shot out, pointed ahead and to the right.  "There it is."  The rest of her words blurred together, "I can't believe you got us on the list.  I mean, like, I've never been to a place like this."  She turned her sparkling green eyes on Dev.  "Do you think a lot of movie stars will be here?"  

    "Breathe, Wren."  Dev took the exit off I-275 south, just in sight of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and stopped at the traffic light across from the club.  When Club Mastodon first opened he'd read about the local business leaders raising an uproar over how quickly the permits, zoning   and associated building minutia were pushed through.  But, when the club was bank-rolled by Alexander Gray, one of the head honchos at Daegon Gray, the normal red-tape covered bullshit disappeared.  

 

About the Author

Since he was a kid, Scott wanted to be an author and explored many genres through high school and college. Fantasy, though, captivated his soul. Tales of Knights and magic, dragons and elves filled his dreams. After greasing the gears of the corporate machine for many years, he escaped the Information Technology vortex to focus full-time on writing. The stories he’d envisioned years ago—of nobility and strife, honor and chaos—demanded they be brought to life.

Scott lives with his wife, two children, and a giant Chihuahua on the west coast of Florida.

VISIT SCOTT AT:

 http://www.scotteder.net/

Waiting For Wren by Cate Beauman ~Preview and Giveaway~

Awesome Cate is back with her newest release.......

Wren Cooke has everything she’s ever wanted—a thriving career as one of LA’s top interior designers and a home she loves. Business trips, mockups, and her demanding clientele keep her busy, almost too busy to notice Ethan Cooke Security’s gorgeous Close Protection Agent, Tucker Campbell.

Jaded by love and relationships in general, Wren wants nothing to do with the hazel-eyed stunner and his heart-stopping grins, but Tucker is always in her way. When Wren suddenly finds herself bombarded by a mysterious man’s unwanted affections, she’s forced to turn to Tucker for help.

As Wren’s case turns from disturbing to deadly, Tucker whisks her away to his mountain home in Utah. Haunted by memories and long-ago tragedies, Tucker soon realizes his past and Wren’s present are colliding. With a killer on the loose and time running out, Tucker must discover a madman’s motives before Wren becomes his next victim.

Buy your Copy
AMAZON Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Cate currently lives in Tennessee with her husband, their two boys, and St. Bernard, Bear. She is the author of the best selling romantic suspense series, The Bodyguards of L.A. County.  Before her career as an author, Cate worked in special education for 12 years.

“I’m a pretty lucky girl; one day I woke up and my entire life changed. I saw the light, so to speak, and decided I was going to be a writer. Now, two years later, I’m working on my sixth novel and I’m an Amazon best selling author.  I’m very grateful for the support and success I have had.  - Cate “

Amazon Author Page

http://www.amazon.com/Cate-Beauman/e/B00A05KHVM/

Social links:

www.catebeauman.com

www.facebook.com/CateBeauman

www.goodreads.com/catebeauman

Read an excerpt from Waiting For Wren:

She pulled in her drive, dropped her phone, and gripped the wheel with trembling hands as heat from the vents rushed over her. She stared at her darkened front steps in the shadows cast about from the neighbors’ tall trees. What if he was here? His texts weren’t threatening, and technically neither were the flowers, but Rex wasn’t healthy. In the two years she’d owned her home, she’d never been terrified to get out of her car and go inside like she was now.

This is what he wants. He wants you to be afraid while he plays his games. Steeling herself, she grabbed her phone and got out with her key fob clutched in her unsteady hand. The cool rush of wind tossed her hair in her face, and she swiped wavy locks behind her ear as she strained to hear over the rustling leaves. She walked quickly, her eyes darting everywhere.

She just had to get to the door and step inside. The panic button was in the entryway if she needed it. The police would come help her, along with whoever was fielding calls at Ethan’s company tonight. “I’m almost there. I’m almost there,” she whispered, flinching, blinking, startled as the sensor lights flashed on to brighten the walkway. The security lights. It was just the security lights. She forgot she reactivated the feature the night of the gala. She took another step forward and saw the blood by the pretty pot of red mums. “Oh my god. Oh my god.” A black cat lay on her step, decapitated and bloated in a pool of dark, congealed crimson. “Oh my…”

Her breath rushed in and out as she stumbled back. The cellphone in her clammy hand rang, and she screamed. Blindly, she pressed “talk.” “Hell—hello?”

“Do you like it?” someone whispered.

She whirled, scanning, searching for Rex. He was here, somewhere. He had to be.

“Why won’t you call me?” The whisper turned into a pathetic whine. “Why won’t you call me, Wren?”

“Stop,” she shuddered out as she hurried to her car, looking over her shoulder from time to time, sure he was waiting to pounce. “Stop doing this. I’m calling the police.”

The whining stopped abruptly and turned into mad, riotous laughter. “They won’t believe you! They won’t believe you!”

“Leave me alone!” She hung up, gasping for air. Tears poured down her cheeks, and her hand shook as she opened her door, took her seat, and locked herself in. She had to get out of here. She had to get away. It took her two tries to shove the key in the ignition as she glanced at the bloodstained step once more and backed out with a squeal of tires. She sped off, heading toward Ethan’s until she remembered he was gone and a quarter of his house had been gutted for the new edition. All of them were gone—Ethan, Hunter, and Austin. She pressed ‘one’ on her speed dial, listening to the repetitive ringing. Ethan’s smooth voice told her to leave a message, but she hung up instead. She turned down another street, taking her farther from her home, and punched in Ethan Cooke Security’s twenty-four hour assistance line.

“Ethan Cooke Security. This is Mia.”

“Mia, it’s Wren.”

“Wren, are you okay?”

“Yes.” Her voice broke, and she shook her head as she clutched the wheel with one hand. “No. No, I’m not. There’s a dead cat on my porch.”

“Oh.”

That didn’t exactly describe the horror she’d just backed away from. “Someone killed a cat and left it on my front step.”

“Oh my god. Where are you?”

“In my car.” She sniffed. “Driving around. I don’t want to go back to my house alone.”

“Of course not. Let me patch you through to Tucker Campbell. He’s on call.”

Tucker? “No, wait—” But it was too late. Soothing music played in her ear.

“Wren?” Tucker’s deep voice hummed with concern.

Her lip wobbled, and tears began to fall again. “Yeah, I’m here.”

“What’s going on? Mia said something about a dead cat?”

“Someone chopped some sweet cat’s head off and put the body on my front step.”

He muttered a swear. “Are you there now?”

“No, I’m in my car, driving around. It freaked me out. I don’t want to be at the house by myself.”

“I don’t want you there either. Come to my place until we get this figured out.”

If choking fingers of terror didn’t have her by the throat, she would’ve refused, but Tucker was offering his help. She needed help. “I don’t—I don’t know where you live.”

“Ocean View Apartments, off Highway One.”

“What if he follows me? He might be following me right now.” She glanced in the rearview mirror and cringed as headlights trailed behind her.

“Who?”

“Rex.”

“Who the hell is Rex?”

“The crazy bastard who left the dead cat on my porch.”

“Son of a bitch, Cooke. Don’t stop. Don’t’ pull over. Drive on a flat tire if you have to. Just get here. I’ll be waiting outside.”

“Okay,” she sniffed, too afraid to be prideful. “I’m about ten minutes away.”

Did you enjoy the excerpt?  You can read the first three chapters on my website, www.catebeauman.com.

The Unofficial Waiting For Wren Soundtrack

As I have discussed with previous book launches, music plays a huge part in my writing process. I typically listen to Pandora or YouTube and compile a collection of songs that I feel represent my characters or the situations they face as the novel unfolds.  Here are a few of the songs that I had on “repeat” while I created Tucker and Wren’s story!  

The soundtrack, of sorts, for Waiting For Wren:

• Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips
• Lego House by Ed Sheeran
• Wanted by Hunter Hayes
• What Would Happen If We Kissed by Meredith Brooks
• Trying Not to Love You by Nickelback
• Beneath Your Beautiful by Labrinth Ft. Emeli Sande
• I Hate How Much I Love You by Rhianna Ft. NeYo
• Be Still by The Fray
• All Along by Remedy Drive
• Clarity by Zedd
• Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
• To Build A Home by Cinematic Orchestra

GIVEAWAY

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL 2: THE RETURN OF SCROOGE

A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge

Genre: Holiday/Humor

Author: Robert J. Elisberg

Publisher: Third Road Press

Pages: 156

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0615727573

ISBN-13: 978-0615727578

It’s five years to the day after dear old Ebenezer Scrooge has passed away and left his thriving firm to his former clerk, Bob Cratchit. However, Bob’s overly-generous benevolence with lending and charity-giving has driven the company into the ground, on the verge of bankruptcy. And so the ghost of Scrooge returns one Christmas Eve to teach Cratchit the true meaning of money, with the help of visitations of three spirits – not all of whom are happy t be there.  (It is Christmas Eve, after all, and they have other plans.) Making the swirling journey through Christmases past, present, and yet-to-be all the more of a chaotic ride for Cratchit are the dozens of characters from other Dickens novels woven throughout the story, together for the first time. God bless them, most everyone.

And it’s all augmented with footnotes of letters between Mr. Dickens and his publisher, along with notes from Dickens’s own hand and scholarly research.  At least that’s what the editor tells us, though we’re a little skeptical of his honesty.

MY OPTION

OMG!!! Really, I don't think I've laughed so much while reading a book in quite a long time.

The book was refreshing, fun, and down right humorous!

As the title implies this is the next part of our beloved Christmas Carol, per se.

It includes a bunch of Dicken's wonderful characters and should you not know those characters.....NO WORRIES!!!! The author includes little tidbits back into those characters.

So, basically if you've been hiding under a rock and have NEVER read or seen some form of A Christmas Carol, you can totally read this and ENJOY it!!!

I personally loved finding out what happens after Scrooge has his little break through and life changes for Crachit.  At times it was very eye opening...Cratchit and his soft heart....poor guy.

I think this would be a wonderful addition to anyone's collection...Go forth and READ it!!!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ROBERT J. ELISBERG

Robert J. Elisberg has been a commentator and contributor to such publications as the Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Magazine, C/NET and E! Online, and he served on the editorial board for the Writers Guild of America. He has contributed political writing to the anthology,Clued in on Politics, 3rd edition (CQ Press).

Among his other writing, Elisberg wrote the comic novella, A Christmas Carol 2: The Return of Scrooge,” which reached #2 on Amazon’s Hot List for Humor/Parody. His most recent novel is the swashbuckling adventure, The Wild Roses. He co-wrote a book on world travel. Currently, he writes a tech column for the Writers Guild of America, west. He also co-wrote the song, “Just One of the Girls” for the Showtime movie Wharf Rat, and wrote the book for the stage musicalRapunzel!.

Born in Chicago, he attended Northwestern University and received his MFA from UCLA, where he was twice awarded the Lucille Ball Award for comedy screenwriting. Not long afterwards, Elisberg sold his screenplay, Harry Warren of the Mounties. He was on staff of the international animated series, Flute Master, and co-wrote three of the Skateboy films based on it. He also co-wrote the independent film, Yard Sale. Most recently, he wrote an adventure screenplay for Callahan Filmworks.

You can visit Robert J. Elisberg’s website at www.elisbergindustries.com.

When Stars Die by Amber Skye Forbes ~Spotlight & Giveaway~

 When Stars Die

Author:  Amber Skye Forbes

Published:  October 22nd, 2013 by AEC Stellar Publishing

Word Count:  83,000

Genre:  YA Paranormal Romance

Content Warning: Contains dark and minor sexual content

Recommended Age:  12 - 18+

Synopsis:

Amelia Gareth's brother is a witch and the only way to save her family from the taint in his blood is to become a professed nun at Cathedral Reims in the snowy city of Malva. However, in order to become professed, she must endure trials that all nuns must face.  

Surviving these trials is not easy, especially for Amelia, who is being stalked by shadowy beings only she can see. They're searching for people they can physically touch, because only those they can touch can see them. Amelia soon learns why she is being stalked when she accidentally harms her best friend with fire during the third trial. Fire is a witch's signature. The shadows are after witches.

          

Now Amelia must decide what to do: should she continue on her path to profession knowing there is no redemption, or should she give up on her dream and turn away from Cathedral Reims in order to stop the shadows who plan to destroy everything she loves?

Amazon | GoodReads

Amber Skye Forbes is a dancing writer who prefers pointe shoes over street shoes, leotards over skirts, and ballet buns over hairstyles. She loves striped tights and bows and will edit your face with a Sharpie if she doesn't like your attitude. She lives in Augusta, Georgia where she writes dark fiction that will one day put her in a psychiatric ward...again. But she doesn't care because her cat is a super hero who will break her out.

Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Website | Blog

Excerpt from When Stars Die by Amber Skye Forbes:

"Yet, even when stars die, they leave a lasting impact through their light, their diamond brilliance as they scatter their material to form new stars. When people die, they leave the same impact with the footprints they leave on people’s hearts. Even the ones who feel insignificant go out, leaving behind dust that can nourish the world anew."

GIVEAWAY

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Beltane - Ten Tales of Witchcraft by TEN Authors (Edited by Rayne Hall)

Ten witchcraft stories by ten authors, edited by Rayne Hall

If you meet a witch, will you know if they're the kind or the evil sort? If you hear about someone practising witchcraft, how do you judge if their magic is real? If rumours spread through your neighbourhood or mass hysteria sweeps through your community, will you be able to keep a clear head? If the only way to solve your problem is by resorting to witchcraft, will you desist or give it a try? 

In this book, all the witches are real. They practice different kinds of witchcraft: Traditional, Stregheria, Santeria, Wicca and more. Some are good, some are evil, and others are in between, so beware of jumping to early conclusions. 

Ten authors share their visions of witches and witchcraft, and each tells their story in a different writing style. To reflect the authors' individual voices, you will find both American and British English words and spellings in this book. 

See which story of these ten resonates most with you. Enjoy the tales - but be warned: these witches may not be what they seem.

1. AN ACCIDENTAL WITCH by Liv Rancourt

A little harmless magic nearly turns into more than this Wiccan can handle.

2. ALBA by Karen Heard

In a race against the clock, will Sgt. Taylor discover the witch behind the murders at Bindings Wood?

3. BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMBS by Jonathan Broughton

Hell hath no fury like a witch scorned.

4. THE CAT MAIDEN by Mertianna Georgia

This kitty cat is a lot more than what she seems.

5. THE MAY LADY VANISHES by Pamela Turner

A missing witch may tear this coven apart.

6. HANGING WITCH OF PAINTER MOUNTAIN by Lawrence Barker

On Painter Mountain, your lust for life or death is measured.

7. THIRTEEN STEPS by Debbie Christiana

The past returns, seeking justice.

8. FOUR BONY HANDS by Rayne Hall

Nasty things sometimes come in small packages.

9. MISHMASH MAGICK by Carole Ann Moleti

Surviving in The Bronx requires new ways of doing things.

10. LOVE MAGICK by Debra Dunbar

Sometimes magic will only show you what was there all along.

Some of these stories have been previously published in magazines, ezines, anthologies and collections.

BUY YOUR OWN COPY

AMAZON    Barnes and Noble

My Opinion

What really can I say, but WOW!!!!

I truly loved that each story is totally different from other. I don't mean by characters or setting (that's a given), what I mean is the feeling you get while reading it. The way each author puts their own take on the stories is wonderful.

It's not like reading a story and guessing the outcome...these stories have you guessing even after your done.

Take ALBA for example...The story starts with what you think is just some girl with issues, living on the streets, doesn't talk...etc

However then people die and things come to the dirt of the matter and you are left like..

"What the wholly heck just happened?"

I think her story was one of my favorites by far. I still wonder about that story!

The authors do a marvelous job including a story for everyone. One story or another will grab you and make you think......

It's a great read for anyone wanting a little witch in their lives. Since this is a book broken into mini stories, you can easily finish one story and go back later for the next. 

Or read each one in one sitting, but fair warning I did that and I wondered about everything afterwards! I literally questioned everything and everyone...

Witch or not....Good or bad....

About the Authors

Rayne Hall - 

Rayne Hall writes horror and fantasy fiction. She is the author of forty books in different genres and under different pen names, published by twelve publishers in six countries, translated into several languages. Her short stories have been published in magazines, ezines, collections and anthologies.

After living in Germany, China, Nepal and Mongolia, she has settled in a small Victorian seaside town in southern England. Rayne holds a college degree in publishing management and a masters degree in creative writing. Over three decades, she has worked in the publishing industry as a trainee, investigative journalist, feature writer, magazine editor, production editor, page designer, concept editor for non-fiction book series, anthology editor, editorial consultant and more.

Currently, Rayne Hall writes fantasy and horror fiction and tries to regain the rights to her out-of-print books so she can republish them as e-books.

Her books on the writing craft (Writing Fight Scenes, Writing Scary Scenes, The Word-Loss Diet, Writing About Magic, Writing About Villains,) are bestsellers.

Website

The other authors-

Jonathan Broughton - Amazon Author Page

Debra Dunbar - Website

Liv Rancourt - Website

Pamela Turner - Amazon Author Page

Lawrence Barker - Goodreads

Mertianna Georgia - Website

Karen Heard - Website

Carol Ann Moleti - Website 

Debbie Christiana - Website

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.