Thursday, March 20, 2014

Review of Model Position by Kitsy Clare

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00II7519C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00II7519C&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Blurb
For Sienna, love and art are perilous games. Is she ready to take that gamble?
Sienna is a beautiful, talented artist poised on the precipice of soaring into the glamorous, yet cutthroat Manhattan art scene.
Dave Hightower is a hooked-up, handsome heir to the hippest gallery in NYC, Gallery Hightower.
Erik is the live drawing model with his sizzling green eyes fixed only on Sienna.
Three’s a crowd, so Sienna must make a choice: date Dave and ride the fast track to landing a show at Gallery Hightower and hobnobbing with the art glitterati, or follow her heart and take a chance with Erik, the stunning male model who’s stealing her heart. But Erik has some worrisome secrets, and who in their right mind would make live modeling their career?
Dare Sienna throw away her chances of hitting it big to follow her heart?


https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AOSMGDRSTVOSL/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Review
This was a great story.  I loved the surprise twist, and the story was wrapped up pretty nicely.  Although, I did think it ended a little sudden, could've gone a little bit longer.  Felt like maybe the ending was rushed?  The author would go into pretty good detail about painting and things she wanted to do to do, but when it came to actually doing them it cut short.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-author=Kitsy%20Clare&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Bio
When Kitsy Clare isn’t creating stories on her favorite Mac Air, she teaches speculative fiction and creative writing workshops. She also loves to draw, travel, read spicy romance, sci-fi and all kinds of thrillers. She divides her time between New York City and her studio in the Catskills, where she enjoys the sounds of birds, bullfrogs and the random coyote.
Kitsy Clare is the pen name for her new adult romance. She also writes young adult fiction using her real name, Catherine Stine. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted an Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Ruby’s Fire, the new companion novel to Fireseed One, is receiving high praise from reviewers. She’s a member of SFWA, SCBWI and CBIG.

She can be found on
Website | Blog | Twitter | Amazon | Facebook

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Eva Pohler's 2000 Likes Extravaganza!

http://www.evapohler.com/
It's that time again!

Time to celebrate another Facebook milestone: 2000 likes at Eva Pohler's Book Page!

To help with the celebration, twenty-five authors and fifteen bloggers have joined together to offer readers an ebook extravaganza! Enter the Rafflecopter below to win, and stop by the Facebook Event for additional Flash Swag Giveaways (t-shirts, buttons, pens, and other fun swag) going on from March 20th to March 24th. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, March 25th! And don't forget that release day for The Gatekeeper's Secret: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Five is April 1st! We will be celebrating that day, too, with my April Fool's Isn't Just for Fools Party with the Olympians!

More details to come!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Review of Give Me Love by Zoey Derrick


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IKZUE5S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IKZUE5S&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20

The Reason Series ~ Complete Collection

All four books of Zoey Derrick’s touching paranormal romance.

Give Me Reason
Give Me Hope
Give Me Desire 
Give Me Love

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IKZUE5S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IKZUE5S&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Blurb
Vivienne Callahan has known only hardship. As if growing up with an alcoholic, drug addicted mother wasn’t traumatic enough, she’s escaped from her physically and verbally abusive boyfriend only to struggle every day to make ends meet as a waitress in a Minneapolis diner. Along comes Mikah Blake…

Links
Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Smashwords | Kobo

Review Quotes
“Give Me Reason is a story full of heart, pain, doubt and learning to trust again. This story is about a woman who doesn't immediately run off with the man who offers her the world. She has seen the ugly in the world and trusting someone again isn't a price she is willing to pay."
★★★★★, Emily, TheSUBCLUBbooks

“Vivienne and Mikah's story is intense, captivating and unforgettable. Their story is honest and gritty.”
Brooke @ Brooke Blogs

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/410704?ref=Jamers8x2“This book will elicit a lot of emotional reactions while reading, you may want to buckle up, cause it's quite a ride. A ride that leaves you scatter brained, your heart aching, pounding, trying to catch your breath, and trying to figure out WTH is going to happen next???? The writing is brilliant and it flows wonderfully. There is an unexpected current running throughout the story, it simmers just below the surface. It will draw you in, and make you quirk your eyebrow.”
Angie - FanGirl Book Blog ★★★★★ Review


“Zoey Derrick had me within the first two pages. Her characters are alive and completely relateable, likeable and down-right loveable. I empathize, I cheer, I fear, I love with them. It takes a good solid book with a solid story and direction to get a hold of me, not that it matters, so to me for this book to grab right out the gate like this, AMAZING!”
Barb - ★★★★★ Amazon Review

“I love stories with angels in them and when you get Mikah and Vivienne together it is heavenly.”
Mary - ★★★★★ Amazon Review

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IKZUE5S/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IKZUE5S&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20

“This series took a story of two tortured souls and turned it into a heart wrenching, test of love and survival, with the supernatural twist page turner that I couldn't put down.”
Stephanie H.

"But I can tell you that this is a book that will keep you wanting more, you will fall in the with these characters, and you'll end up a die hard fan of Zoey Derrick."
★★★★★ Amazon Review


https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AOSMGDRSTVOSL/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Review
This series was awesome!  Gotta love a story that has romance, danger, action, and downright craziness in it.  It took a while to finish the story, as it was four books, but anticipation is a good thing, right?  Especially with the way book three ended!  The last book was totally worth the wait.  The love that was building throughout the first three books, was finally expressed in this last book with several really hot scenes.  I love the way it ended!  It answered all of my questions with the exception of one.  Since the story ends two years down the road, I imagine there won't be more.  Though it would be interesting to see more, like maybe 15-20 years down the road.  Zoey writes characters that are just so loveable.  The reader yearns to know what happened to them. 

http://www.amazon.com/Zoey-Derrick/e/B00CNZYGZU/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Bio
Amazon Best Selling Angels, Demons & Devils and Paranormal Author of Give Me Reason - The Reason Series Book One comes from Glendale, Arizona. Zoey, was a mortgage underwriter by day and is now a paranormal, romance and erotica novelist full-time. She writes stories as hot as the desert sun itself. It is this passion that drips off of her work, bringing excitement to anyone who enjoys a good and sensual love story.
 
 Not only does she aim to take her readers on an erotic dance that lasts the night, it allows her to empty her mind of stories we all wish were true.
 Her stories are hopeful yet true to life, skillfully avoiding melodrama and the unrealistic, bringing her gripping Erotica only closer to the heart of those that dare dipping into it. 
 
 The intimacy of her fantasies that she shares with her readers is thrilling and encouraging, climactic yet full of suspense. She is a loving mistress, up for anything, of which any reader is doomed to return to again and again.

Links
Website | Facebook | FB Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/410704?ref=Jamers8x2

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Review of Loverboy by Trista Jaszczak


http://www.tonyaloveslife.wordpress.com/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GB2FJSE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00GB2FJSE&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Title – Loverboy
Author – Trista Jaszczak
Genre – Romance/Thriller
Re-Release Date – October 31, 2013
PublisherPlanettopia Publishing
Cover ArtistBeetiful Designs

Blurb
When Charlotte Murphy escapes from the ruthless serial rapist and killer, Loverboy, she finds herself completely lost and scared to death. Lost, frightened, recovering, and in the sights of a brutal killer. In a most odd but clever tactic from the police, they assign Charlie 24/7 live-in protection; a move that is supposed to comfort her and make healing easier. Somehow, despite the odds, Charlie finds a refuge in officer Nick Andrews and in his arms she finds the strength to heal and the courage to move on with life. Nick finds everything that he wasn't looking for in Charlie’s eyes and a fight against a killer that becomes personal.

Links
Amazon | Goodreads | B&N

https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AOSMGDRSTVOSL/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Review
Crazy Awesomeness! This book has two of my favorite things. An intense plot, with a great love story. The twists in this story are a big surprise, didn't expect that at all! I don't want to spoil anything though, so I won't elaborate. While I didn't have to pay for this book, it is totally worth it's current $0.99 price!

http://www.amazon.com/Trista-Jaszczak/e/B004MJDHM8/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Bio
Trista Jaszczak (jazz-ick) is the author of the Believe series, retold, and upcoming relaunches, Loverboy, What Lies Inside and the Darkness Falls series. She is an Air Force spouse and mother to two mischievous and rambunctious little girls. She is originally from Hamilton, Ohio but calls home where ever the Air Force sends her. She currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska where she finds endless inspiration in the pure Alaskan wilderness. When she isn’t writing, she spends her time with her family in the vast Alaskan outdoors, plucking away at her old guitar or working on self-improvement in the gym. She loves the outdoors, the moon, old movies and music.

Stalker Links
Amazon | Website/Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

Soundtrack
1. Demons by Imagine Dragons
2. It’s Not My Time by 3 Doors Down
3. I Wanna Be There by Blessed Union Of Souls
4. Wake Up by Coheed & Cambria
5. Under Pressure by David Bowie & Queen
6. Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
7. Crawling by Linkin Park
8. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Jefferson Starship
9. Daughters by John Mayer
10. Be Good To Yourself by Journey
11. Use Somebody by Kings of Leon
12. Torn by Natalie Imbruglia
13. You Get What You Give by New Radicals

Giveaway
One 1st Place Winner: Paperback Loverboy Handmade Book Thong (Intl GC equivalent)
Two 2nd Place Winner: eCopy Loverboy with handmade Loverboy Bookmark (International OK)
Three 3rd Place Winners: eCopy Loverboy (International OK)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt
My name is Charlotte Murphy. Charlotte? Charlotte… No… No, they call me Charlie. I call me Charlie. Everyone calls me Charlie; they have for years. My head hurts. Bad. I’m twenty-one? I’m from Indiana. Wait. Where in Indiana? Why can’t I remember? My parents have lived there all my life. Indiana? Morgantown, Indiana. But, I moved? I don’t live there anymore. Ugh. Why can’t I move my head? No. I don’t live there anymore. I live in New York. For…for…? School. For school. I live there for school. And, I’m a dancer. I’m an instructor for a studio part time. I work with the younger girls. I can’t move my arms, either. Where am I? Where was I? It’s black, everything is black. I was leaving school. No. Work? No, I don’t work until later this week. Why can’t I remember? What was I doing? I was leaving…something. Somewhere. I’m sore. Everywhere hurts. The party. I was leaving a party. That’s it. I left the party, because people were acting crazy. I walked. I walked home. I remember. I cut through Central Park. But then someone grabbed me. Someone grabbed me hard. They covered my mouth. I remember!
My eyes pop open, and suddenly I’m greeted by annoying, harsh white lights and beeping noises. I groan softly. My God, I was right. I was grabbed. Someone kidnapped me. They don’t still have me do they? They can’t. No. I ran. I got away. I move my eyes around slowly and realize the only thing that can have beeping noises and such bright lights is the hospital. I’m in the hospital. I don’t remember getting here. I couldn’t have gotten here by myself. Could I? I moan again, this time making an attempt to move my hand. At least, I think I’m trying to move my hand. It hurts, too. My head, my neck, my arms, my legs, everywhere. Stabbing pains, shooting pains; pains that I’ve never felt before in my life course through every last inch of my body. Just how hurt am I? I can feel my heart beginning to pound furiously deep in my chest. I hear a clicking noise and feet on the floor as the sounds come closer.
“Charlotte?” I hear a soft female voice.
I open my mouth and realize how dry it is. I swallow hard and make another attempt to speak.
“It’s okay, Sweetie,” she interrupts me. “You don’t have to talk. Do you know where you are?”
I give myself a moment and fight through the pain enough to nod my head.
“You understand that you’re in the hospital?” She asks.
I lick my dry lips to find an array of what feels like cuts around them, and nod slowly once more.
“You are one lucky girl,” she says, as I feel her working with the tubes that I now see are all attached to me. “We didn’t expect you to wake up this soon.”
“Pain,” I finally choke out.
“Don’t worry; we’ll get you something more for the pain.” She reassures me. “Just try to relax for me. Don’t worry now; the police are here.”
The police?
“Police?” I stammer.
“Why, dear, after what you’ve just been through they wouldn’t dare leave you without protection,” she says softly, as I feel her working with another tube that I can now tell is running directly into my arm.
“Protection?” I ask. “I was,” I pause to swallow. “I was kidnapped.” My thoughts become jumbled a moment as I try to comprehend everything that’s happened to me. Everything in my mind seems to be surrounded by a thick haze, and I can’t pull even one random thought from the mess.
She looks down at me, making the most pitiful face I have ever seen on a person. “Oh, Sweetheart, I better let the police talk to you about that.”
Just how bad am I?
“Can I,” I stop. “Can I sit up?” I ask
“Do you feel up to it?” She asks. “I don’t want to exhaust you; you just woke up.”
“How long have I been out?” I ask, now feeling more strength in my voice.
She takes a moment to glance at the gold watch on her wrist. “Just about twelve hours now, dear.”
Twelve hours?!
“I think sitting up will help my back,” I reply, softly.
She cocks her head to the side, giving me the pitiful look again. This time I can’t be too sure, but I think I can see tears in her eyes. She finally nods and begins pushing buttons on the side of the bed that control the angle and lift. I can feel my body’s muscles beginning to work for the first time, in what feels like, years. Aches, pops, and uncomfortable groans; I can feel it all. I finally bring my strongest hand up to my neck, rubbing a tender spot that is completely covered with what I can only assume is a large bandage.
“Would you like a pillow behind your back?” She asks, the pitiful look falling over her face again.
I can’t imagine just how bad I look, but judging by the look on her face, not pretty. I nod slowly as she helps me lean forward, just enough for her to slide the pillow behind me.
“Can I get you anything else?” She asks, giving my shoulder a tender pat.
I shake my head.
“Well, the doctor will be in shortly,” she replies. “But, if you need me, just push this button.” She pulls a remote from behind the bed, pointing at the bright red button. She smiles. “The other two buttons control your TV.”
“Thank you,” I manage, as I weakly take the remote from her hand.
As the nurse turns to make her exit, I’m surprised to see a doctor already on his way in. He’s tall with pale skin, and his eyes give the impression that he hasn’t slept in days. His hair too; it’s mousy brown and cut short, but looks as though he’s just crawled out of bed. He smiles.
“Glad to see you awake,” he says. “How do you feel?”
“Like I was just run over by a Mack truck,” I say, working to adjust myself in the bed.
“Well, given what you’ve just been through, I would say you should feel even worse,” he says. “Mind if I have a look at you?”
I shake my head. Do I honestly have a choice? He steps closer, and suddenly I feel a pang of panic that I can’t explain. My heart begins to race and I can feel sweat beginning to build up on the palm of my hands. I swallow and give him a strange look. I open my mouth to apologize, but he politely stops me.
“It’s okay, I won’t hurt you,” he says.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I don’t,” I pause to swallow and look away for a moment, “I don’t know what happened.”
“You’ve been through a lot, Charlotte. You’re a very lucky young woman.”
“I guess I don’t remember what exactly I’ve been through,” I say, looking down at the tiled hospital floor.
“One step at a time,” he says. “Best just to take it easy for now. Would you like for me to call Doctor Kenton? She’s really great to work with. I think you would really like her.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s okay. I trust you.”
Five whole minutes into his routine examination, and I regret not letting him phone Doctor Kenton. My palms are sweaty, my mouth is dry, and, though I have been able to control my racing heart, I’m sure he’s able to pick up on how uneasy I am with his hands anywhere near me. After listening to my heart, he backs away slowly and smiles.
“Everything looks perfect,” he says. “You sure you feel alright?”
I nod. “As well as I can for the aches and pains.”
“I can certainly make sure you have something for the pain,” he says, “Is there anything else I can get you?”
“Well, I do have a question,” I say, “How long will I be in here?”
“It’s hard to say,” he says, “It could be a few more days; it could be a week. The best thing for you is to stay here until you’ve healed. You’ve endured a lot, and I wouldn’t want to release you just yet.”
I nod. I should have figured. “Is there any way that I could get some clothes that are a little more,” I pause. “Covering?”
He nods. “I can’t see how some good warm sweats would hurt.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“And, one last thing,” he says. “There’s a gentleman here; a police officer. He’s to stand guard at your door.”
Police? Stand guard at my door? What the hell happened to me?
“Okay.”
“I’m sure he’ll be in shortly for his questions.”
I nod.
“You let us know if you need anything, Charlotte.” He smiles.
I nod again in silence as he makes his way out the door. It’s then that I can hear him talking to the cop, who truly is standing just outside my door. I slowly lean my head back and sigh. I can’t remember a thing. What’s worse is, now I don’t know that I want to.
The light knock at the door makes me jump unexpectedly. I let out a deep breath as the nurse from before steps in, smiling.
“I brought you something warmer to slip on,” she says, “The police department was kind enough to lend us some sweats for you,” she explains as she sets them on the bed. “Would you like some help getting dressed?”
I look down at my right hand that’s badly bruised, there’s an IV ran in the top. Glancing to the left, I see it’s in the same horrible shape, minus the IV. I give a slight nod, and she begins helping pull the blankets back. It’s the first time I’ve seen anything other than my hands, and I see that both my legs are cut up badly and bruised. My mouth drops as I see some of the cuts are extremely deep and have been stitched up. My eyes follow up my legs to my bruised thighs, and I see the deep purple bruising has gone in between them. I look up at the nurse, with, more than likely, the same pitiful look she gave me.
“I’m sorry,” she says, softly. “We don’t have to do this now.”
I shake my head and swallow. “I want to be covered.”
She nods as she helps my legs off the side of the bed.
“I was raped.” I ask, “Wasn’t I?”
She quietly reaches for the navy blue sweat pants and gingerly guides my legs into them. Finally, she looks up and gives me a slow, sad nod.
I lick my lips and look down as I ease myself down off the bed long enough to pull the sweat pants up around my sore waist that is just as tender to touch as my legs.
“Would you like the sweatshirt on too?” She asks, holding up the navy blue sweatshirt that has the word POLICE in bold yellow print on the front.
I nod. “I just want to be covered.”
“I understand,” she says as she begins working gingerly around the IV, and an array of deep cuts and bruises that I now see are all over my upper body as well. I feel a wave of nausea wash over me as I fight to hold everything from vomit to tears inside.
“There,” she says, finally tugging the warm shirt down around me. “Feel better?”
I nod. “Thank you for your help.”
“It’s no trouble,” she replies. “Would you like some socks, too? These floors get so cold at night.”
I immediately nod, wanting each and every inch of my body to be covered by something, anything at all.
She pulls a pair of thick gray socks from a storage cabinet, and is kind enough to help them on my feet. She smiles and pulls the blankets around me once more. “You get some rest now. The more you rest, the quicker you’ll heal.” She smiles, as she heads for the door.
I force a smile. “Thank you. I will.”
Normally, I wouldn’t mind being left alone at all; but, now that I have a lot swimming through my mind, I don’t want to be left alone to remember anything. I remember I had walked to my friend Rachael’s party. I knew most of the people there, except for a small handful of her latest fling’s friends. They were the reason I left. Turns out they had a taste for a lot of booze and drugs too. And, by drugs, I don’t mean marijuana. I mean cocaine and other substances I don’t even want to think about putting anywhere near my body. I told Rachael it was bad news, and to get them out. But, she didn’t believe me, of course. Isn’t that how it always worked? It was her party and her place, so I did what I thought was best. I grabbed my coat and took off. I walked. I know I walked; I usually walk everywhere. But, I cut through Central Park. Not because it’s really a short cut, but just because it’s one of my favorite places. That was my mistake, cutting through the park. That’s where he got me. How stupid can I be? Who walks through a deserted park, late at night, alone? Apparently, stupid Charlie Murphy does.
I make a feeble attempt to roll to my side, but I’m greeted by a new stabbing pain on my hip. One so bad I let out a loud cry and bring myself nearly to tears. I take a few deep breaths, and suddenly the large, wooden hospital door is flung open with such a great force that it makes a loud banging noise against the wall. There, standing in the doorway, is the police officer. There’s no mistaking him in his perfect black uniform. He’s young, a lot younger than I would ever expect, and tall with golden brown hair that has a messy style. My yelp has clearly startled him. His body finally relaxes, and he straightens himself out.
“I’m sorry,” He says, “I didn’t mean to bother you, I just…” He stops.
I shake my head. “It’s okay.”
“I’ll just be outside if you need me,” he says, as he grabs for the door handle to shut it behind him.
I stare blankly at the door. He’s a ‘He’. How could the police department even think of sending a man after what I’d been through? Even though, I admit I wasn’t fully aware of just what I had been through yet. Stupid police department. Stupid me. Stupid men. Stupid everything. I sigh deeply. The pain in my side is slowly beginning to fade into a light throbbing. I have a sudden urge to lift my sweatshirt in order to see what has caused the immense pain, but after seeing my legs, I fight the urge to look just yet. After my legs, I’m terrified to see the rest of me, even though I know I will have to eventually. It is my body, after all.
Despite the aches and pains that are pulsing and throbbing, I pull the blanket up around my shoulders a bit tighter and close my eyes. I suddenly feel exhausted again. Apparently I’d just been through hell, and I looked like it too, so I didn’t see anything wrong with letting myself fall into a nice, deep sleep.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Review of True North: Finding Home ~ Livie & Jake

http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
 
Title:  True North: Finding Home ~ Livie and Jake
Author:  Allie Juliette Mousseau
Publication Date:  March 17, 2014
Genre:  New Adult Romance

http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Blurb
"When you're lost... True North"
The North brothers were hell on wheels-adrenaline-junky bad boys. You’d think they had a death wish – every one of them – but they didn’t really, they just got off on the thrill of pushing every limit, that gravity or any other force told them they couldn’t conquer. What they weren't prepared for were the women that would steal their hearts.

True North:  Book 1, Finding Home ~ Livie and Jake
Livie Morrisey is dreading seeing Jake after his heroic homecoming from Afghanistan. She's been in love with Jake North since she was a little girl, but he was three-and-a-half years older than her and her big brother’s best friend. She was always nothing but the off-limits little sister – until the night before Jake left for the Army, when he'd given her her first kiss. They'd kept in touch for a year, but once Jake was deployed to Afghanistan, he'd cut off contact suddenly and she'd never heard from him again.
For the past three years Livie has kept herself distracted with homework and her university studies, but now Jake's going to be up close and personal. And Livie can’t decide if tonight's finally the night to prove to Jake she’s all grown up or the night she should let him go forever.

Links
Goodreads | True North Series Reader’s Candy Group | Amazon TBA

https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AOSMGDRSTVOSL/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Review
This book touched a special place in my heart.  My nephew, also named Jake, is also in the Army, and is currently over in Afghanistan.  From what I know, he's on base, not out fighting like Jake was, but I have yet to meet a person in any branch of the US Military, my father was in the Marines, who came home without PTSD.  It's so frustrating how we Americans, both Civilian and Military alike, treat our soldiers when they return.  My Dad waited years before he got his Vet Benefits and help treating his PTSD.  Like Jake, he couldn't sleep without having nightmares, and as a Vietnam Vet, never slept more than two hours straight.  Something they were apparently trained to do at the time.  He was in the Marines for 28 months, but suffered for what...40 years?  He only had his benefits for the last 5-10 years of that.
Back to the book, I loved it.  Both Jake and Livie suffered so much during this book, but their love was so strong.  I can only hope that if my nephew does come back like Livie's Jake, that he finds a woman who can help him the way Livie helped Jake.  The healing trip they took was amazing, but to go into too much detail would spoil the book.  This is the second book I've read of Allie's, I think I loved this one more, but I've loved every book of hers that I've read, and I can't wait to read more.  Especially the next book in this series.  Not who I thought it would be about, but it still sounds like another book for me to love.  Hopefully I'll get to read that one too, and tell you all about it in a future post!

http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Bio
Allie Juliette Mousseau writes sexy, emotionally charged New Adult Romance in a variety of genres and temperatures.
She writes from passionate and angsty; fun and light to intense and epic. She incorporates a lot of romance, tension, and hot and sexy spice. Always a HEA and stand alone - even in a series.
Her alter-ego, Alana Jewel Mousseau creates captivating YA worlds through the magic of ink. She writes brave but "human" main characters, imaginative plots and complex worlds; from High Octane action to exploring the deepest emotions - you won't want to put down your book!
She can always be found writing, playing in puddles with her children, hiking with her husband, or adventuring somewhere in the world. Her favorite place to write is outdoors, but when the weather gets too chilly she'll be inside at her desk looking at the mountain view from her home office in Montana where she lives with her loving husband, children, and 85 pound golden retriever, who likes to sleep on her feet while she writes.
With a free spirit, Allie loves to travel and has spent three years sparking her imagination while traveling the U.S. and Canada in an RV with her family. She looks forward in continuing her journey to see the world, while finishing her degree in Literature

Books by Allie
“True North” Finding Home ~ Livie and Jake; NA Contemporary
“Enemy Lines”; Sci-fi Adult 
“Without Borders”; Contemporary Short

Books by Alana
“The Scars Saga” A Young Adult Sci-fi trilogy; paranormal romance series
“Scars of the Bifrost” Bk 1 | “Unlocking Brisingamen" Bk 2 | “Ragnarok.” Bk 3

Links
Website | Alter Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook | FB Page | Amazon

Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpts
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
http://www.amazon.com/Allie-Juliette-Mousseau/e/B00CBIZ52M/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&qid=1394486223&sr=1-2-ent&tag=yohameatfrbo-20

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Into the Storm's Domain by Ged Maybury Release Blast

http://tonyaloveslife.wordpress.com/
 
Title: Into the Storm's Domain
Series: Across the Stonewind Sky (Book 1)
Author: Ged Maybury
Genre: Fantasy/Steampunk
Publisher: Satalyte Publishing
Release Organizer: Wolf Paw Blog Tours

Blurb
From NZ Children’s Book Award 2-time Finalist Ged Maybury comes the first volume of an exciting new Steampunk trilogy 'Across the Stonewind Sky'. Into The Storm’s Domain is a rollicking ride set in an alternative Victorian era, and it delivers an A-to-Z of swashbuckling adventure: Action, Buxom Beauties, Cunning Contrivances, Enigmatic Emissaries, Heroics, Science, Villainy and Strange Zoology!

Jilted at the altar and determinedly British about it, Rodney Hoverrim embarks on the adventure of a lifetime – following his nation’s bravest (and most foolish) into the ‘Storm’s Domain’.
But his airship adventure is barely under way before he is hijacked, and they in turn are attacked by sky pirates; twice! Now captive of the very vile villainess The Black Bitch, Rod must fight for his life as her fetid airship plummets towards the skyland of Vicaria – lair of its mad (and possibly evil) ruler Victor Vicario; well known for injecting his visitors with his latest concoctions.
Out of the frying pan but not yet in Victor’s clutches, Rod must desperately deduce who his true allies are before it is too late – only to discover that Vicaria hides a veritable shipload of secrets, and seductive women!

Links
Amazon | Print | B&N | Smashwords | Goodreads | Satalyte Publishing

http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-author=Ged%20Maybury&linkCode=ur2&page=1&rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AGed%20Maybury&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Bio
Ged Maybury originally trained in architecture and worked in the building industry, then switched to being a stage actor and playwright, which lead him to becoming an author. He has written 17 published sci-fi and comedy books, and has twice been a finalist in the NZ Children's Book of the Year Awards (1994, 2001). His printed books sold in Canada, the UK, Australia and NZ. His digital books sell world-wide.
Although never having any formal training in novel writing, he has undertaken some training in TV scripting and screenplay writing, and in 1998 gained a Diploma in Event Management – being one of the first in Australasia to do so.
He currently writes Steampunk for young adults and adults alike, has recently produced his own music video, (– the theme to his latest book) and is currently in pre-production of a ten-minute short film and an adult-themed stage play, amongst other things.

Links
Website | Facebook | FB Page | Amazon

Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
http://tonyaloveslife.wordpress.com/

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Review of Going Nowhere Fast

http://tonyaloveslife.wordpress.com/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H240NGI/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00H240NGI&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Title:  Going Nowhere Fast
Author:  K. D. Bloodworth
Genre:  Adult Contemporary/ Romance
Publication Date:  12/02/2013
Length (Pages/# Words):  382 pages
Publisher:  Planettopia Publishing, LLC
Cover Artist:  Wendy Chartier

Blurb
Leave your mundane cares behind, sit in your favorite chair and be prepared to travel the road of love, loss and no return. Travel down roads most women would never dare. Delve into the lost and found of life’s trials and tribulations by “Going Nowhere Fast.”

Links
Amazon | Goodreads

https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AOSMGDRSTVOSL/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Review
A little odd, but I really liked it.  I say odd, because it bounces back and forth throughout time without really stating what year it might have been.  Of course there's clues in the context of the surroundings, but at one point I was really confused about when it was, lol.  I figured it out eventually though.  I'm about twenty pages shy of finishing but I needed to get this posted.  I can't wait to get back to it and finish the story.  The things Dawn goes through in her life...this book will make the reader angry and offended on her behalf.  It also has some pretty hot sex scenes.  This book is said to be loosely based on the author's real life.  Until I finish the last couple of chapters, I can only hope that the man she's with at this point of the book is her now husband, and they managed to work things out.  I'm glad to see in her bio she's with someone who can make her happy after all of the failed, heartbreaking relationships she's had.  Check out the excerpt below for a sad example of the end of one of them. 

http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-author=K.D.%20Bloodworth&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Bio
Growing up in Southeast Michigan, K. D. found herself a wanderer and adventurer, sometimes going down the wrong road, but always finding her way back home. She has found a way to bring her colorful stories to life. K.D now resides in Montana with her husband, sharing their home with Fuzzy, a Goldendoodle and Muddy Brown Dog, a Labradoodle

Links
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Wordpress

Giveaway
$5 Amazon Giftcard
2 eCopies of Going Nowhere Fast

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link

Excerpt
I turned away, bag in one hand, my purse in the other. Two hundred dollars in my pocket and no idea where I was going next. I just knew I had to get away. Phoenix was no option. I never looked back, never heard the truck start, never heard his voice again.
I walked out of the parking lot, down the street and down the entrance ramp to the interstate. It only took a few minutes with my thumb out for a big rig to stop. I ran up to the truck, opened the passenger door, swinging up into the cab.
“Where you headed little lady?” Drawled the driver.
“The question is where are you going?”
“I’m headed to Salt Lake.”
“Well, if you don’t mind some company I sure could use a ride.”
“If I had minded the company I wouldn’t have stopped.” He drawled again only this time with a wide toothy smile.
I threw my bag up in the sleeper, stowing my purse at my feet. I stuck my hand in my jacket pocket and felt the money. My eyes started to fill with tears.
“You OK there?”
“Yep, I’m OK. Just something in my eye.”

“Something like a broken heart?”
“You might say that.”

Friday, March 7, 2014

Review of Cowboys & Kisses by Sasha Summers

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IDVR40W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IDVR40W&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Blurb
Allie had big plans for the future. Falling for a cowboy wasn’t part of it.
1. Get out of Black Falls Texas - aka Redneck Hell
(Graduation was eight months away. After that, she was out of there.)
2. Avoid Wyatt Holcomb at all costs.
(Except he was everywhere and kind of hard to ignore since he was hot - and a really nice guy.)
3. Avoid her parents.
(Shouldn’t be too hard to do since her father hated her and her mother pretended nothing was wrong.)
4. Stop thinking about Wyatt.
(Which would be a lot easier if he wasn’t so sweet… and he’d keep his shirt on.)
5. Decide what she really wants.
(Instead of holding onto the past and the guilt.)

Maybe falling for a cowboy could work after all?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/AOSMGDRSTVOSL/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Review
OMG, I loved this book!  It's interesting how a book can be pretty hot without an actual sex scene.  This book wasn't just hot though, it was also sweet, intense, funny...pretty amazing.  I debated whether or not I should give it a 5, I may just change my mind by the time I post it Amazon, B&N, and Goodreads.  Depends on how well the story sticks in my head.  I hope I get to read more of Sasha's work!  Gotta love an author who doesn't just stick to one genre.  Keeps it interesting.  I know she did pretty awesome for YA, be fun to see how she does in everything else. 

Links
Amazon | B&N | Kobo | AlleRomance | Goodreads

http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-author=Sasha%20Summers&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Bio
Sasha is part gypsy. Her passions have always been storytelling, history, romance, and travel. She writes lyrical romantic fantasy, steamy contemporary romance, sci-fi romance, and young adult romance. Her first play was written for her Girl Scout troupe. She's been writing ever since. She loves getting lost in the worlds and characters she creates; even if she frequently forgets to run the dishwasher or wash socks when she's doing so. Luckily, her family is super understanding and supportive.

Links
Goodreads | Facebook | Pinterest | Website | Twitter | Amazon
Check out the other stops on the tour!
Fantastical Adventures Through the Paper Realm | Chicklit vs Fantasy | The Girl Bookaholic
The Book Whisperer | Irisjexx | The Unofficial Addiction Book Fan Club | Jackie's Book World

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Promo of Model Position by Kitsy Clare

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00II7519C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00II7519C&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Blurb
For Sienna, love and art are perilous games. Is she ready to take that gamble?
Sienna is a beautiful, talented artist poised on the precipice of soaring into the glamorous, yet cutthroat Manhattan art scene.
Dave Hightower is a hooked-up, handsome heir to the hippest gallery in NYC, Gallery Hightower.
Erik is the live drawing model with his sizzling green eyes fixed only on Sienna.
Three’s a crowd, so Sienna must make a choice: date Dave and ride the fast track to landing a show at Gallery Hightower and hobnobbing with the art glitterati, or follow her heart and take a chance with Erik, the stunning male model who’s stealing her heart. But Erik has some worrisome secrets, and who in their right mind would make live modeling their career?
Dare Sienna throw away her chances of hitting it big to follow her heart?

http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-author=Kitsy%20Clare&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Bio
When Kitsy Clare isn’t creating stories on her favorite Mac Air, she teaches speculative fiction and creative writing workshops. She also loves to draw, travel, read spicy romance, sci-fi and all kinds of thrillers. She divides her time between New York City and her studio in the Catskills, where she enjoys the sounds of birds, bullfrogs and the random coyote.
Kitsy Clare is the pen name for her new adult romance. She also writes young adult fiction using her real name, Catherine Stine. Her YA futuristic thriller, Fireseed One won finalist spots in both YA and Science Fiction in the 2013 USA Book News International Book Awards. It was also granted an Indie Reader Approved notable stamp. Her YA Refugees, earned a New York Public Library Best Book. Ruby’s Fire, the new companion novel to Fireseed One, is receiving high praise from reviewers. She’s a member of SFWA, SCBWI and CBIG.

She can be found on
Website | Blog | Twitter | Amazon | Facebook

Monday, March 3, 2014

Release Blitz for Will Shakespeare and the Ships of Solomon


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I7J4XPE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00I7J4XPE&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Blurb
Sounds like a mix of Raiders of the lost ark and Da Vinci Code
Post-War Treasure Hunt, Old World Secrets
In the fall of 1947, Will Shakespeare saw the world collapse around him. Shakespeare, a secret soldier for the Knights Templar, barely escapes the slaughter of his entire knighthood at the hands of a rogue militant arm of the Vatican in a small Montreal church.
With orders to escort Templar business associate Dorothy Wilkinson back to her home in Bermuda, Will must locate and rescue the most important secret treasure in human history before it is devoured by a hurricane in the watery caves beneath her father’s property.
The spiraling quest sends Will and Dorothy into uncovering dark secrets that make up the origins of the knighthood as they confront the traps and puzzles that masterfully protect the world’s most coveted treasure.

Links
Amazon | Goodreads
 
http://www.amazon.com/s/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-author=Christopher%20Grey&linkCode=ur2&search-alias=digital-text&sort=relevancerank&tag=yohameatfrbo-20
Bio
Christopher Grey is an author of fiction focusing on conspiracy theories, secret societies and the occult. His special brand of storytelling dives into conspiracies and the occult from the point of view of the secret societies, attempting to dispel popular mistruths and paranoia prevalent in the mainstream.
Grey's fascination with the secret world began when he was sixteen after a chance meeting with a conspiracy theorist in a coffee shop sometime in the 1990s. The conversation with this man led Grey on a lifelong scholarly endeavor to learn about secret societies and the occult from a skeptical and secular point of view.
Over the past 15 years, he has been involved in various fraternal societies and has sought to explore the undercurrents of human civilization–to uncover the hidden histories and the forces and patterns that have designed what society has become and to demystify the hidden forces in our society that, for so long, have been vilified and misunderstood.

Links
Website | Publisher | Blog | Twitter

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I7J4XPE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00I7J4XPE&linkCode=as2&tag=yohameatfrbo-20Excerpt

First Chapter: Will Shakespeare and the Ships of Solomon

Sir William Shakespeare lit a cigarette to pass the time. Even through the fog he could make out the silhouettes of the surrounding landmarks in Old Montreal. On this particular overcast day, the city was more akin to London than Paris, from which many locals declared their decadency. Will spent a great deal of time in both cities and could personally attest to the ambiance of each. No matter what the charcoal skyline of this city presented or feigned, it was no doubt as cold as London. His wool overcoat did little to help, and the gray fedora on top of his well-combed black hair only stopped the moisture from disrupting the hair treatment.
Blue eyes scanned the skyline. It was the most interesting place to look. Cowering fog oppressed the Canadian cityscape with little regard for daylight. Traffic down St. Catherine’s was all but extinct. Every twenty minutes or so, a distant hum of a car would be complemented by fading headlights as they turned from Union or University, submitting to the thick moisture by employing useless headlights. It was infrequent enough that he could spend a great deal of time examining them as they passed, refracting in dismal displays of frigidity. Pontiacs . . . Chevys . . . gray . . . beige . . . black. . . . Nothing to cause concern.
The humidity was high enough to turn the city into a veritable swimming pool; such was not uncommon for this time of year. Only the day prior a storm passed through, throwing down sheets of incessant rain, taking away fallen leaves and other autumn debris into the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. A frigid day coming out of an even more brisk night cost many Montrealers a pleasant morning. In just a short time, snow would mark the landscape and herald a long winter ahead.
Brown bristles of deleafed deciduous trees from the largest green space in the city combed over the gentle slope of Mount Royal, which stretched devoid of people into the throngs of McGill University. A forest of meager but still prominent buildings decorated the campus and lowland shores on the east end of the island, humbly marking Montreal’s downtown area. Not quite in the vicinity of Old Montreal, but close enough to see the gothic fingers of aged colonial skyscrapers and churches, lay one of the more prized structures in the well-populated Ville-Marie borough. The Christ Church Cathedral, promenading an entire city block, catapulted its own religious testament toward the already aged and humbling skyline. Buried next to McGill’s nineteenth-century manicured campus and amid one of the larger commercial districts of the borough, it was a more permanent marker on the skyline.
Beneath the skyline and at the enclave of the cathedral, Will watched for any unusual activity. Pedestrians were just as scarce as cars, if not more so. No one in their right mind would be walking down St. Catherine’s on this morning. Not unless they were a McGill student or hopelessly lost. It wasn’t St. Catherine’s, Will corrected himself. The locals called it “Rue Ste-Catherine O.” The French pride here took some getting used to, and even after two years he was nowhere near tolerant enough. Living in Montreal did affect his French, however, and on a good day he could very easily get around using the language. He already had a base from his years in Vietnam, but the dialect was very different. His French-Canadian accent was strange enough that most people didn’t even guess he was American, much less a Connecticut native.
The delicate lights inside Christ Church Cathedral danced from behind stained glass. It was likely quite a lot warmer in there, and as much as he’d like to go in, he couldn’t. His job was to make sure no one went inside who wasn’t authorized by the Order. With the complete lack of passersby, the job was far easier than he’d thought it would be.
The regular churchgoers and staff weren’t a problem, as Will had arranged to have the facility completely vacated three days before. The Order had high contacts within the Anglican Church, and it really only took verification of who they were to keep the facility clear. The staff closed the doors to the public, citing plumbing problems, and ensured that the congregation was well aware of the issue. That wouldn’t disrupt normal services, as everyone would be out by evening, allowing the clergy to prepare for the next day’s sermon.
It was three-thirty the last time he checked his watch, and that was recent enough that he didn’t bother to check again. Looking at his watch too many times made the time pass slower. They’d been in there for four hours—a very long time to watch nothing, although Will was accustomed to this sort of work. During the secret war of the mid-1930s, he’d spent countless hours in the dark streets of Havana watching walls rot. The jungles of Vietnam were no different. Even his work on the Allied fronts of the war kept him at watch more than once. The secret was simple: watch the horizon and focus on points only when there was movement.
Very important men were inside the church at the moment discussing things Will had no earthly idea about. The last time members of the leadership were all in the same room was the dawn of the war. If the threat of Nazi Germany was the one thing that brought these old men together, it horrified Will to know what had gathered them here on this day.
The 1939 meeting was a much different time, even though it was only ten years prior. He was still a sergeant, but the work in 1938 put him on the path to promotion, earning him the prestigious title of Knight Brother. His work in Havana with Lucky Luciano and other Mafioso leaders secured private interest in Cuba from rising communist influence. Suddenly wrenched from the secret affairs of the Latin world, Will was dropped directly into the middle of Europe while a madman marched across the landscape. Will wasn’t the only one dispatched. In fact, the crew present in Montreal that day was the very same one that had kept each other alive in the European war. If it wasn’t world war these men were meeting about, Will didn’t really want to know what it was.
The grounds were clean. He and Sam Adams had just completed a fourth sweep. There were six other Knight Brothers patrolling the area. No one was getting through. He stayed with Sam, his prodigy, at the front. There were two men on either side of the cathedral, and two patrolling the perimeter. Will had asked for more knights, but the commanders weren’t able to bring them back to Montreal soon enough. Many were still supporting the security of Berlin’s occupation, and after recent outbursts in Vietnam against the French, a dozen were placed back there.
His curiosity was piqued, but any guesses on his part would only be speculation. Knowing the meeting took place under the direst of necessities, he also knew that the Order was in great danger. Having all members of the entire leadership in one place was rarely practiced, and for good reason. A secret society needed safeguards in place to ensure the knowledge of its members was not lost. Whatever brought them all to Montreal was no concern to Will-he was a soldier. He didn’t need to know the politics behind his organization. He followed orders as he always did.
Keeping trained eyes on the distant Montreal background, he pondered the location. Out of all the world’s cities in which the Order operated, their base of operations was this somewhat small city in Canada. Knowing the full history of the Order meant it was no mystery. In fact, the city of Montreal was created on the Order’s influence as a sort of Utopian society. Fighting the impulse to use the word Utopian, he reminded himself that the city more appropriately represented the concepts described in Francis Bacon’s novel New Atlantis. Montreal was the center of a New Scotland with high liberal ideals. These concepts were still inbred in the society, it seemed. Just three years prior, there had been great national conflict when the mayor protested conscription for the war. Ottawa put the mayor in prison, and the conscription was enforced.
Will was somewhat dismissive about Canada. He didn’t particularly care for the climate and was accustomed to slightly more exciting locations. Used to being in the center of it all, adjusting to the slow-paced northern life wasn’t without its challenges. No longer concerned for his life whenever he stepped outside his house, and working a somewhat regular job with the Order training sergeants, the days of working the field were sorely missed. He’d also been stuck as a trainer for long enough that he hadn’t managed to make it to his home town, Hartford, since the war. A ping of guilt crossed his consciousness as he recalled Hartford. It had been too long.
Will had been promoted to Knight Brother during the war, a fantastic honor and one awarded to only three dozen people in the entire world. He was officially a Brother of the Knights Templar and had access to some of the most powerful secrets in human history. Part of becoming a knight, however, was erasing his old identity. He was now immersed in an ancient tradition and as such operated above any nation or society on the planet. He could no longer be a normal citizen. His old life was over, and a new, secret one had begun. The knighthood faked his death in the war and sent reports home to his mother and sister that he’d died honorably in combat in Germany. He’d then taken an oath never to contact his family again.
Those were distant and painful thoughts to have on this morning, and so he sidetracked himself by checking the position of his crew. Glancing back, he made sure Adams was still in position. Nothing had changed. As a Knight Brother, however, security was on his shoulders. He couldn’t allow any of the sergeants to lose focus. The Knight Commanders had tightened security for a reason. His reevaluation of the crew brought his attention to another oncoming car.
This one was different from the others. Immediately Will knew it wasn’t a civilian. The pace was too slow as it crawled forward deliberately. The driver was making no mistakes, watching for every conceivable detail. Even in fog, civilians tend to move forward with a flare of recklessness. Content to crouch behind their steering wheels and squint into the white nothingness, they think that by squinting they’ll see something before it becomes a problem. A military person, however, will simply travel more slowly, having built the fog into the mission as a component.
The car stopped precisely in front of the cathedral, close enough that Will could spot the signature maple-leaf Canadian flags attached to the hood-far too showy for his tastes. He had been expecting this car. Ottawa was personally escorting a civilian for the leadership to interview. That’s all he knew. Given the security concerns, he was appalled they’d arrived in diplomatic style. Anyone with half a brain would know something important was happening at the cathedral today. Their low profile was effectively blown.
His face darkened as he watched a man step out of the backseat in a pressed navy-blue suit and yellow tie, black overcoat, and fedora. A public servant, not a spook. Why were they being so careless?
The politician opened the back door and helped out another passenger. Although Will Shakespeare was a professional, he couldn’t help but take an interest in the woman who stepped out. Short brown hair. Youthful face but with years behind her brown eyes. She was sun-kissed yet dressed like a New Yorker. He allowed himself enough leeway to lose focus for only a second. Long enough to nod and offer an obligatory smile as they approached.
“Miss Wilkinson, for you, my friend,” the politician said.
Glancing back at Sam Adams, Will gave the unspoken order to hold his position while he escorted the guest. Adams, standing at ease, snapped into focus and put out his cigarette, now being the eyes of the operation. Shakespeare was free to greet the newcomers.
“Good afternoon, Miss Wilkinson, we appreciate your prompt arrival. You are free to go inside.”
Will kept his smile, but it was only an act. He was being polite because she was a civilian, and possibly because she was pleasant to look at, but much more important issues were on his mind. I am not a doorman.
The woman smiled and hesitantly went into the cathedral, looking back at the politician as she did so. As soon as she was out of sight, Will’s smile dissolved into severity. He broke through the politician’s milk-toast expression with an unblinking and official stare.
“You took a public vehicle. Why?”
“I thought your guest should arrive in style,” he said with a high tone in his voice, emoting a certain level of offense.
“Before you leave, remove those flags and your license plates. Tell the driver to dump the car at the university and take a goddamned taxi home.”
Now the man was openly offended.
“Wait a minute, sir! Do you have any idea who I am? You are talking to . . .”
“An elected official with no brain matter. I don’t give a damn, you are compromising our security.”
“Just who do you think you are?” His voice was raised now.
“If you have to ask, you are not cleared to know. Leave the car at McGill’s. Take a taxi.”
“This is ridiculous. I’m calling the office!”
Will looked back at Adams with another unspoken order. The sergeant immediately stepped forward and opened his coat. The sidearm was quite visible underneath.
This openly threatening gesture stunned the official into silence. Sputtering and glancing between both men with a reddened face, the Canadian did what he was told, removing the flags and crawling inside the vehicle. Will watched him go with no expression. He only hoped it would be enough. They could already be compromised.
He turned to Adams. “Walk the perimeter again. Make absolutely sure it’s clean.”
Adams nodded and went on his way.
Will reflected on this woman and how she’d arrived. There was no good reason a woman like that would be meeting with the Grand Master. Slamming his mind back into focus, he finished his cigarette and took a good look around the premises. Moving down the steps of the church, he checked around the corner to see if any headlights were approaching.
It was a good thing he did because in the next moment he was forced to pull his gun.

Check out the other stops of the tour!
Pure Jonel |Savings in Seconds | Mythical Books | Deal Sharing Aunt | The Insane Ramblings of a Crazed Writer | The Wormhole | What Mama Wants