 Wormwood by D. H. Nevins is a post-apocalyptic thriller you’ll never forget. Against a devastated landscape, a legion of one hundred fierce half-angels is hell bent on purging the Earth of all humans. But one of them, the tormented Tiamat, struggles against his mission, and when he rescues a beautiful woman named Kali, he finds the attraction as troubling as it is miraculous. Can Kali trust the one creature who could be responsible for her ultimate demise? Beautifully written and excitingly told, Wormwood creates a world that is as strange as it is compelling. Filled with brilliantly executed twists and turns on every page that are guaranteed to keep you guessing, Wormwood is one of the most exciting debuts of the year.
Back in August I wrote the first and only partial book review I have ever done. I was so captivated by the first five chapters that I felt compelled to write the review before finishing the story (which hadn't been released yet.)Three months later and I have finally been able to sit down and read through the entire book. I burned through this book in one day, because it's one that kept my rapt attention from the first page to the last. D.H. Nevins is a mastermind. In my original review of the first five chapters I said, "Ms. Nevins writing is sheer genius, well thought out, extremely well written, and polished to perfection. I have been left ready to beg for the next few chapters, the rest of the story, and sorry for the fact that I will have to wait to finish this amazing bit of fiction! Wormwood is a book I want on my shelf, in my collection, to be able to pick up and return to on a whim" I was not wrong! Those words still ring true today after reading Wormwood in its entirety. I do have Wormwood on my shelf, and I will - no doubt - be taking it down from time to time to enjoy again.Find out more about D.H. Nevins and Wormwood at www.dhnevins.com
 Portia Mullins had always lived the life of a normal teenager, up until her sixteenth birthday. She is then informed by her grandma that she is actually a witch who
is a descendant of a long line of witches and warlocks. After overcoming her disbelief she finds that being a member of the coven comes with one great perk in the form of the school’s handsome bad boy, Vance Mangum. Vance and Portia have an immediate connection as a budding romance begins, only to be threatened by turbulent skies on the horizon as Vance’s checkered past rears its ugly head to haunt them. Portia is forced to use her untried powers in defense of everything she loves in a desperate attempt to hold on to the one thing that really matters in her life.
WOW! I wasn't sure I would like the first book, let alone the series, because it was so heavy on the romance. But I found myself captivated by the epic love story that the author painted across her pages. I picked the first book up on Friday, and here I sit on Sunday, wondering why the fates had to torture me so, because the fifth and final book will not release until Feb. 2012. While I loved the series, I think my one and only complaint about it was the lack of realistic language. Teenagers, especially those faced in precarious positions and sexual situations, are not going to yell things like, "darn" and "dang," especially if they happen to be evil (or under the influence of evil) at the time. As the mother of a teen, I could see my daughter seriously rolling her eyes at that and telling the author to "get real."While there were definitely moments where I thought the characters' lines were a bit too sappy, they also fit the characters' personalities. It was definitely a fantastic balancing act by the author. I inhaled these four books over a weekend, and book four left me with my jaw dropped, ready for more. I simply can't wait to finish this series in February. Fans of YA romance, especially of the paranormal variety will love this series! Each story is well thought out, beautifully written, and the characters become people you definitely find yourself caring about. There are some pretty hot moments, gooshey romancey moments, some great action, and without a doubt a lot of magic and emotion. At $.99 a pop, I suggest you go ahead and buy every book in the series before you sit down to read. It'll save you the time and trouble of having to go back and get them later! Don't forget to do your favorite authors a favor and rate/review their books where you purchase them. :)Click these links to find out more about Of Witches and Warlocks or the author, Lacey Weatherford. If you have already read the books and LOVED them, let us know and win them for a friend! If you haven't read them and would love too - let us know that too, because all FOUR e-books will be given away to one lucky person who leaves a comment below. Prize to be awarded Dec. 2, 2011.
A Review of the Morganville Vampire series by Rachel Caine Series books - some people love them, others hate them. Personally - I love them, well, most of them anyway.Topping my list of most addictive serial books happens to be The Morganville Vampires series. I first picked this series up a few years ago. As a matter of fact, they were among my very first e-book purchases ever. I think the original attraction was that they were cheap, under $3 each at the time. So, while they were short and sweet, they were also a fantastic bang for my buck! They also had different covers, so I am including the newest cover versions to avoid confusions.
The series, and e-book in general, have grown in price, but years later, I find myself dusting off my Nook e-reader app and diving back into this series. Even if it means paying higher prices for the rest of the series, I'm heading back into Morganville Don't let these little books fool you. They pack a big punch! They come complete with action, mystery, violence, fantastic one-liners, sweet romance, and betrayals. Oh - and did I mention the vampires problems? Well, I thought that was a no-brainer from the title, but you never know. ;) Day two of my re-reads (I had originally read the first seven books) got me all the way to the end of book 5. Yes, I said book FIVE! I did say they were short... well, more aptly described as quick reads. Not to mention, thanks to e-readers, there's no need to put them down or to remember to bring multiple books with you in order to swap them out when you leave the house. Finished with book two? No problem, just flip right on over to the next one! That is probably the best thing about e-readers... no more forgetting to bring the next book in the series with you! But, I digress, I burned through these books - again - rather quickly. I even sat through a movie on TV the other day, and guess what I did during the commercials? You betcha - I was reading! Don't judge! At least, not until you find yourself smack in the middle of an unputdownable series too! If you are a fan of vampire fiction and you haven't already checked out the Morganville Vampires series, I seriously suggest you go grab a few of them. Yes, take me at my word, and grab more than one. Once you enter Morganville, there really is no going back!
Win the Omnibus edition (1st three books) Details below
*ENTER TO WIN: Haven't read any of the books yet? Maybe you've read them, but you know someone who needs a shove in that direction? Follow my blog (via Networked blogs), or like us on Facebook to be entered to win an omnibus paperback edition that includes the first three books in the series! If you already follow us and/or friended us on Facebook - leave a comment! :D And good luck.
*One winner will be announced, and chosen at random. Open to residents of The United States and Canada only! The winning book will be shipped directly from Amazon. Contest ends 11-28-2011. Winner to be announced 11-29-2011.
 Blurb from the author's website:
The novel is called Atticus for the Undead. It centers around an idealistic young attorney, Hunter Gamble, who works in a very special area of the practice -- arcane defense. Twelve years ago, the world discovered through an event called The Unveiling that vampires, werewolves, zombies, and other creatures previously thought purely mythical were, in fact, real. This changed the fabric of American life in a number of ways, not least of which -- they needed somebody to go to court for them! And so, with the help of shy-but-energetic research attorney Kirsten Harper, Hunter sets out to make the world a better place -- one arcane client at a time. (Don't call them supernaturals, it's rude!)
When a young zombie walks into Hunter's office accused of murder (by brain-eating, of course), Hunter must navigate a complex web of political, legal, and cultural obstacles to secure the man's freedom -- if he can.
I received an advanced readers copy of Atticus For The Undead from the author. This book was a treat! It is well written, the characters are interesting, intelligent, funny, and endearing in their own ways. My initial reaction, to just the first chapter, was, "hmmm, this is interesting!" From there, it only got better. This is not your typical supernatural story. It is an intelligent take on what would happen if the "real world" were suddenly made aware of the "supernatural world" living among us... or perhaps I should say "Arcane world," and the legal implications that could arise.Atticus was an awesome book and not just for fans of the urban fantasy/paranormal genres. Those who enjoy a good legal thriller might just be willing to take a trip on the darker side of things and embrace the wide literary world of zombies, witches, and magical creatures because the author has written them so well that you don't realize it's not real!Kudos to John Abramowitz for his creative genius and exceptional writing!Atticus For The Undead releases on Nov. 21, 2011. Be sure to grab a copy, you won't be disappointed! In the meantime, you can keep up with John Abramowitz on his blog On The Bird.Don't forget, those commenting through Nov. 25th are automatically entered to win an e-copy of this fabulous book!
Today's interview is with musician/author Carroll Bryant. He is the only author I have ever interviewed who isn't secretly plotting to take over the world. That makes him a very interesting person indeed. Check out what Carroll had to say about writing, books, music, and life in general. 
CHRISTINE: How do you find the time to juggle work, family, and/or anything else you do?
CARROLL: For me, it’s not a juggle at all. I am a single man. No wife, no kids, and in fact, no job. Well, except for writing. Motivation is sometimes difficult for me to find, not the writing part, but for the editing process of my books. I could hire an editor however, I am not one to trust others with my work so, I do my own editing. It is tedious, sure, but I feel a lot better about doing things for myself.
 CHRISTINE: Everyone has their own story, how did you stumble into a writing career?
CARROLL: Stumble is the perfect word. I never woke up a day in my life and said that I wanted to be a writer. I just woke up one day and realized that I was a writer. Besides books, I also write songs and poetry. In fact, the first thing I really wrote that was of any significance was a song I wrote the day of my 18th birthday. From there, the flood wall broke. I was writing poems/lyrics all the time. I think it was inevitable for me to evolve from writing these one page, two page short stories that poems and songs really are, and venture into the land of full blown novels. I actually thought of it as a challenge. Could I do it? And once I started getting inspirations for stories, I decided to try it and I have never looked back. I still write all of it, books, poems and songs. But, songs did come first.
CHRISTINE: What would you say inspires you most when you are developing a new story line?
CARROLL: Strange as it may sound, I really don’t develop story lines. They kind of develop themselves in a way. Music is what generally kick starts any idea. If I hear a certain song at the right time, I get this flash in my head. That’s how my first published book, Children Of The Flower Power, was conceived. I heard a song, saw the words FLOWER POWER flash before my eyes and from there, for the next six years, it swirled around my head until I realized how it was to be written. Then it took six months to write. So music would be the biggest inspiration I guess. As for the writing process, I sit and listen as a ghost whispers the story into my ears. So many times when writing I think a story is going to go left, but no, that voice inside tells me to go right. I trust that voice. That ghost. That instinct. Half the time, I feel like a reader as I write.
 CHRISTINE: Some people outline their books. Some don’t … tell us about your writing process – how do you get from idea to completed novel?
CARROLL: I’ll take you through the process with my first two books. First, Children Of The Flower Power. Okay, so I was getting into the shower one day, had a radio in the bathroom that was turned on and set on an oldies station. The song “Come and get your love” by the group, Redbone, started playing. From the opening riff, I saw the words “Children of the Flower Power” The original idea was to write about an active commune during the summer of love (1967) and on through to 1969. But it didn’t feel right so I allowed it to swirl in my head for six years and it slowly turned into what it is now. The same with my 2nd published book, Last Flight Out. It was inspired by the song of the same title from the group, Plus One. I was going to write this fabulous love story. However, it didn’t feel right, something was missing. It swirled in my head for about 6 years also before I realized what it would become. That’s how they start. A story idea will swirl in my head for a few years or more and just like a cake, when it’s ready to come out of the oven (which is what I call my brain) I sit down and start typing. The words just pop into my head, almost like they are being whispered in my ear by a ghost. I already know the basic foundation as it formulates in my head for so long, the only thing left to do is write it out and put words into my characters mouths. That’s essentially what the ghost whispers to me. It all flows in one direction very easily. Each thing I write, I see it in my head like a movie scene. Maybe this is why people who read my books claim that they always feel like part of the story, like they are right there, watching everything take place right before their eyes. I have had several people tell me that when they got done reading “Flower Power”, they actually wanted to go to Beddington, Maine to see if these characters were really there. Now THAT is a compliment.
CHRISTINE: Were you inspired to write by a particular author? If so, who and why?
CARROLL: The first book I ever read was “Gone With The Wind” by Margaret Mitchell. My mother had that book and I remember seeing it laying on the coffee table one day so I picked it up and read it. I couldn’t put it down. I was 8 years old I think. Maybe 9. But that story stuck with me as I continued reading. I don’t think it was the primary inspiration to write because my first love was music. Elvis was the primary force behind that. And the Beetles. More importantly, I was always looking to see who wrote the songs. That was my fascination. So when I started writing songs, I was following my hero’s which also included Rick Springfield. In poetry, Lord Byron was always one of my favorites. As well as Edgar A. Poe. After writing songs for so long, I often reflected to that feeling I had after reading Gone With The Wind and thought it would be a challenge to write a book. I had an inspiration one night for a story while driving home in some thick fog. The song “Broken Wings” by Mister Mister, influenced a sci-fi I wrote but have yet to publish.
CHRISTINE: Okay, so beyond the writing now, if you could eat only one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
CARROLL: My mother’s lasagna. End of story. It is the greatest thing I have ever placed inside of my mouth. She is the best cook. Don’t get me wrong, not just anybody’s lasagna will do, it has to be mother’s lasagna.CHRISTINE: So - now, not only am I hungry, but I'm thinking I should interview Carroll's mom for that lasagna recipe. ;) Let's get back to the writing before I have to go settle for Stouffer's.
CHRISTINE: Aside from reading and/or writing, what is your favorite thing to do with your free time?
CARROLL: I like playing fantasy football. I started playing that about four years ago when I decided I didn’t want to work a 9-5 job anymore. Some people would say I am a skirt chaser. (As grand-pappy would say) I guess being a single guy, to a certain extent that could be somewhat true. Some would say I drink too much. I don’t know how much is too much, everybody has their own opinion on that I suppose. Mostly, I am a recluse. I like the quiet life. I like going to bed when I want to go, not because I have to get up to go to work. I like waking up naturally. I haven’t used an alarm clock for five years. I like coming and going without having to answer to anybody. I like my solitude. But then there are times I like having female company. It’s always nice though when she goes back to her world and I get to go back to mine after a while. It’s all about what you want I guess. Being that I can cook for myself, I really don’t need a significant other for the moment. Although, there is one girl whom I think I could without a doubt spend the rest of my life with. She knows who she is. She is my soul mate. But she has dreams and aspirations that will take her where I have already been and don’t care to revisit. She has her own path to walk so I am letting her walk it. Meanwhile, I remain footloose and fancy free. I am not complaining. Yes, I live a very boring life these days.
 CHRISTINE: If you weren’t a writer and you could make a living at anything else, what would your dream job be?
CARROLL: This is going to sound so …. Out there! But ever since I was about 14 years old, I always thought about going into the adult film business. Yes, you read correctly, I often considered becoming an adult film star. I would go by the name of Buck Naked. I mean, why not get paid for doing it, Right? Haha. Turns out, I am camera shy. Other than that, California beach bum/surfer dude would be my next choice.
CHRISTINE: Despite the fact that you're camera shy, (I can imagine the sighs of disappointment right about now from our readers) do you suffer from delusions of grandeur? I mean – are you secretly planning on taking over the world like the rest of the writers out there?
CARROLL: I think Dr. Evil has dibs on that. Seriously, what is it with people and wanting to take over the world? Have you seen how screwed up it is lately? Why would you even want it? I would rather just build a spaceship and go traveling through the universe and find my own little planet. Taking with me of course a few girls of choice to help pass the time as space traveling, when not warping through vortexes and worm holes, takes a while. But no, world domination is not for me. I already own my world and that is enough. Hey, you, get off of my cloud. Ha ha
CHRISTINE: What is your favorite genre of books and why?
CARROLL: I like reading and writing all genres. Kind of like my music. I write country, rockabilly, pop, pop rock, rock, metal, you name it. My books are the same way. I don’t like staying in one place for very long. I wrote a nice comedy romance in “Flower Power” and a dramatic and very controversial romance in “Last Flight Out”. I have horror, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy and even a western story that I want to write. I like each project to be different and challenging. To write the same genre over and over? No thanks. Been there, done that.
 CHRISTINE: Tell us about your latest book. (How long did it take to write? What was your inspiration for the book?)
CARROLL: My latest book that I have recently released is called, Last Flight Out. It was inspired by the Mary-Kay Letorneau story so the subject matter is somewhat controversial I guess. It deals with a 16 year old girl, Lily McCourtney who falls in love with a 28 year old man, Kavita Davidson. I have had a few people already thank me for not trashing it up. It focuses more on the emotional aspects of love rather than the physical. A far cry from the happy go lucky old hippies in my first book, Children Of The Flower Power. As I stated before, I like mixing it up. I write what I am inspired to write. It took about six years from the initial inception of the idea to write a dramatic romance. It wasn’t until I read the story of Mary-Kay when I learned that she and the then 13 year old boy, now an adult man, are still together and living happily together. This prompted me to take the story into its current condition. That became my “hook” so to speak, speaking in terms of song writing. So I focused on that as my subject matter. Again, it has been getting great reviews so far and took about 2 months to write once I started writing it.
Children of The Flower Power took six months. At nearly 400 pages long, it is by far the longest story I wrote but that could be because of how many characters actually got into the story. There’s a lot. And it doesn’t smother you in hippy lingo and history. While there are obvious references, the story actually takes place in 2003 and in the small community of Beddington, Maine. It revolves around three females, Jennifer Kapshaw, who is the grand-mother, Christine Williams, who is Jennifer’s daughter, and 15 year old Sally Williams, who is Christine’s daughter and Jennifer’s grand-daughter. It is somewhat of a “chick” book, I suppose, but I think there are some men out there who would enjoy it also. But “Flower Power” is a really fun ride where-as, “Last Flight Out” is somewhat of a tear jerker. Very different stories.
CHRISTINE: Do you have plans to release more books in the future? If so, tell us about what you have in the works.
CARROLL: Staying in line of changing things up, I am in the process of editing my new book, due out in Spring of 2012, “Of The Light”. It’s a science-fiction romance that revolves around the character, Zenakis Vinzant. Haunted by dreams of a childhood friend who came up missing when they were both 9 years old, Zenakis travels the road of personal redemption, trying to find the answer to that age old question, “What is this life really all about?” He gets the answer in a very dramatic way. Basically, he is confronted with a choice in the end, does he stay on planet Earth or does he go back with his “new friends” in another galaxy to live in a utopian society on another planet where he can live for thousands of years with the “light” beings? If you had the choice, what would you pick? Could you leave your family and friends to go to a perfect place? You won’t believe what Zenakis ends up doing in the end. In fact, this is the first book of a five book series dealing with the adventures of Zenakis Vinzant and his eternal battles of life, love, friendship and humanity.
CHRISTINE: If you could live within the pages of your book, would you? And why or why not?
CARROLL: Yes! If I could trade places with one character in all of my stories, it would be with Zenakis. In fact, a lot of his life, thoughts and things that he does is actually somewhat of my own biography. A lot of me is inside Zenakis. And a lot of my life and family. I won’t say what part of the book is my real life and which stuff isn’t, I’ll just let your imagination decide for you. Ha ha.Most of what I am doing is for fun. I still consider writing as my hobby. I just like sharing it with the world. I hope that people like my stories. And thanks for the opportunity to talk a little about myself and my work.You can find Carroll at Goodreads or on his website: http://carrollbryant.weebly.com/ Grab "Children of the Flower Power" and/or "Last Flight Out" on Amazon for Kindle: The books are also available at Barnes & Noble, The Reader Store (Sony), and Apple (iBooks) for $2.99.
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