REVIEW OF ALMOST HUMAN ( FIRST TRILOGY) VOLUME 1 BY M. NOWAK

The Almost Human Trilogy is a paranormal fantasy that involves a vampire and a young woman. They are joined by a cast of characters as they deal with addictions, desire, struggles with abuse, morality, college life and zombies.

Volume 1: Fatal Infatuation


Felicity views going away to college as an opportunity to mature into a confident young woman, but her new beginning turns out to be more of an adventure than she bargains for when she finds that her school is plagued by vampires!

Cain is an elder vampire who displays quiet confidence even as he struggles to overcome sins of his past. Surprisingly, he found that in losing his life he gained his faith and a purpose.

His mission: find the hostile vampires that inhabit this small college town, and educate them to live in peace with humans. Their leader, Sindy, is a wicked temptress who has set her sights on Felicity's new friend Ben. She will be difficult to control, but after meeting Felicity, Cain's most difficult task lies in controlling himself.


My Thoughts-

I have always been a fan of vampires and Ms. Nowak's first volume of the trilogy was great. The way the author alternated chapters between characters was very clever and kept me interested. All the characters were developed nicely and I could feel their emotions. I was unsure of who the good or bad guy was and that kept me thinking throughout the book. I have been waiting for another series similar to the Twilight Series and after reading the first volume, I can't wait to sink my teeth into the other two volumes.There are some unanswered questions that I hope will be answered in the next two volumes but I knew that this was not a stand alone novel before I started reading it. If you like vampires, mysteries and romance this is the book for you.





Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book by the author for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF IMMORTALIS CARPE NOCTEM BY KATIE SALIDAS

Becoming a Vampire is Easy

Living with the condition that's the hard part.

In Immortalis Carpe Noctem by Katie Salidas, Alyssa is mugged on the campus of her college and is rescued by a vampire, Lysander. She was bleeding to death and he decides to "turn her". He gives her the gift and the curse of immortality. When she wakes up, she realizes she is a vampire and has to learn how to live as one. Even vampires have enemies and Lysander must protect her from an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum and the powerful and evil vampire mistress Kallisto. Kallisto is out for revenge because Lysander has taken a new mate. She is out to destroy them both. Will Lysander protect Alyssa and will she learn how to live as a vampire?




About the Author-

It was only natural that a love of reading about vampires, and a love of writing, turned into a desire to write her own stories. Thus, Immortalis Carpe Noctem was born.

A Las Vegas native, having grown up in the famed City of Sin, Katie loves to feature it as a recurring setting for many of her stories. You can find Katie at her blog, My Immortal Stories and Rising Sign Books.




My Thoughts-


This is not your typical vampire book. You get to experience what it is like to be a vampire first hand through the eyes of Alyssa. She had to go through so many different feelings about her new life and with the help of Lysander; she can understand her feelings. I had a little crush on Lysander because he was good looking, compassionate and liked to get into trouble at times. The book clearly shows Katie’s love of vampires. The book was well written, captivating and I was able to feel the emotions of the characters. I look forward to reading the second book in the series Immortalis: Hunters and Prey due out in 2011.




Read an Excerpt-

                                                              CHAPTER 1

                                                            Hated waiting!


I shot impatient glances at my phone, checking the time displayed in green LED.

It was late, and I was restless.

Sounds of clapping in the background signaled another poetry reading had finished.

It was a busy night at Café Copioh, but then, just about every night here was busy.

Copioh drew in a unique crowd from the nearby college. It wasn’t one of those fancy, fru-fru coffee houses. It had bohemian feel; colorful, vibrant, and eclectic. Each wall had been painted in different colors; teal, maroon, sand, and sage. Reprints of various, famous artwork lined the walls including a large mural of Van Gogh’s Starry Night, in black-light reflective paint. A plethora of flea market-style furnishings had been strewn about haphazardly in the large space, completing the relaxed, homey feel.

Mike, the manager, a stereotypical beatnik-esque guy, complete with goatee and long pony-tail, set down a Styrofoam cup, filled with a dark, chocolaty drink. “You adding this to your tab, Alyssa?”

I smiled. “Yeah, I’ll pay up on Friday. Thanks.”

I was a regular here. Mike knew this and usually let me slide until payday. I could be found here almost every night. And so could my, currently absent friend, Fallon.

I shot another impatient glance at my phone.

“Ten p.m. C’mon Fallon, I don’t want to wait all night,” I sighed.

A loud, shrill voice spoke over the café’s speaker system. I cringed, hearing the start of another dreary poem. Someone was almost always on the makeshift stage. Reading poetry was the custom here. I sat back into the cushions of my favorite brown, threadbare love seat in the front window--far away from the stage—and tried unsuccessfully, to ignore the babbling. I never did care for poetry. Most of it was nothing more than nonsensical emotional ramblings. Too much use of words like: dark, black, emptiness and despair.

A hum of mumbling voices tempted me to listen. Eavesdropping here was like having a front row seat to a taping of my own personal soap opera. Tidbits of gossip about people I knew piqued my interest, momentarily stealing my focus.

The sudden jingle of my cell phone startled me. I jumped to answer it almost knocking over my mocha. I didn’t need the caller ID to tell me who it was. Fallon was well over an hour late.

“Please tell me you are close. You would not believe the day I had. I need to vent,” I blurted out, forgetting the pleasantries of a proper greeting.

“Sorry, Alyssa, I’m not going to make it out tonight.”

Great, what else can go wrong today?

“What, No! Oh C’mon, Fallon. Don’t leave me hanging. I need a friend today. I got fire-“
“Lyss, I don’t feel like going out tonight. I’m tired and it’s already late. Let’s just meet up tomorrow, Okay?”

I huffed, not wanting to answer.

“Alyssa, I promise, tomorrow,” Fallon said in her most sympathetic voice.

“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” I didn’t bother hiding my disappointment.

“Sorry, Lyss, I’ll make it up to you. I promise. We’ll go out tomorrow. You can tell me all about work then, okay.”

“Fine,” I grumbled. “Next time, don’t leave me hanging here by myself for an hour before you decide to cancel on me.”

I breathed a disappointed sigh and pressed the end button on the phone.

“Well, isn’t this the perfect end to the perfect day? Might as well pack up and go home.”

I gulped down the last bit of my mocha, waved to Mike, and walked out the front door.

The hot summer breeze greeted me; a mixture of coffee, car exhaust, and the lingering tang of grease from a nearby taco shop.

I set off across the street to the University. My apartment was on the other side of campus. Just a quick ten minute walk and I would be home.

Being a petite woman, I never did like walking home alone, especially at night, and tried to avoid it whenever possible. I’d heard too many horror stories about college girls-like myself-being raped or worse. This time though, I had no choice. There was no friend to take me home, so I had to hoof it.

Reaching a thin hand into my bag, I pulled out a keychain of pepper spray. Old Reliable. Knives could be turned against you and do some serious damage. I knew pepper spray was a good enough deterrent without having the potential to be deadly. If someone managed to get it away and use it against me, worst I would expect is stinging eyes and that was better than a stab wound.

UNLV was quiet at this time of night. All the regular classes had ended hours ago and the walkways were all empty. My finger covered the trigger of the keychain as I took the pathway leading towards the theater and music halls.

Just walk fast and don’t talk to anybody. I took a deep breath, steeling my courage while attempting to calm my nerves. I hated walking home alone.

Sounds of distant chatter caught my attention. Echoes of raised voices reverberated off of brick buildings, sounding like a couple of men arguing in somewhere ahead of me. Tightening my grip on the keychain, I quickened my pace.

Almost home, just keep going.

Small lamps dotted the walkway, and flood lights hung from the corners of some of the buildings. Normally, there was plenty of light on the walkway but something felt different. Things seemed darker. A light on one of the buildings flickered. I noticed another building’s lights had completely burned out leaving a portion of my path in darkness.

I gritted my teeth and fought against the weak voice of my intuition telling me to go back to the café.

The arguing voices faded. An eerie quiet sent a shiver dancing down my spine. I stopped and looked around, checking for any movement in the shadows. Intuition, no longer a weak voice in my head, screamed at me to run. Something wasn’t right here.

Probably just some frat boys. Calm down Alyssa, No reason to get scared. My heartbeat sped, pounding against the wall of my chest.
“Excuse me, Miss,” a voice called out from behind me.

I stifled a gasp. My heart skipped a beat.

“Excuse me, Miss. Hello. Can you help me?”

Against my better judgment, I turned towards the voice.

“Sorry to bother you, miss. I’m new here and kind of lost. Could you tell me where the library is? I’m supposed to be meeting a friend there.”

The voice sounds friendly enough. Okay, just give a quick answer and leave.

I squinted, trying to get a better look at him as he walked towards me. He passed out of the shadowed path into the light.

A wide-mouth smile covered his face. He didn’t seem intimidating. He looked like an average skinny college guy; short spiky hair, glasses, and generic sarcastic sayings t-shirt. For a second, I thought I recognized him from somewhere.

I took my finger off of the pepper-spray trigger. “Sorry, I’m a little jumpy tonight. It’s no problem. Just go down that…” I pointed in the direction of the library.

Something tapped me hard on the shoulder. I turned around, seeing a blur of knuckles just before a fist slammed into my face.

Excerpt taken from here

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book by the author and Pump Up Your Book I was not compensated for my review.

GUEST POST BY KATIE SALIDAS AUTHOR OF IMMORTALIS CARPE NOCTEM

I want to welcome Katie Salidas to Books R Us. Katie is the  is the Author of Immortalis Carpe Noctem. She is presently touring the blogosphere on her first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! Thanks for stopping by.



Why you started to write about the occult, supernatural and vampires and was it difficult to get into the writing business?



I’ve been a die-hard vampire lover since I was a little girl. There was just something about those creatures of the night that struck me. Vampires were the only creature that “went bump in the night” and didn’t scare me. Unlike werewolves who hunted in the full moon, ripping their victims to shreds, or Zombies (Shudder… I hate zombies) who stalked you for your brains and ate the flesh away from your bones, vampires seemed more elegant and enchanting. They lulled you into a stupor, mesmerizing you with their gorgeous eyes. They were classy and spoke with old-world accents. And the best part, they didn’t always kill; sometimes they made you, like them.

What can I say? I was hooked, plain and simple.


So, as a lover of vampires and a writer, it was only natural I take the next step and merge my two loves.


But, with the recent surge in vampire popularity, it’s not enough to just write a vampire story. You have to give a little oomph to it, something different whether is it a concept or a change to the old myth.


We all know the standard vampire themes: Vampires cannot handle sunlight, crosses (or any holy relics for that matter) are a great deterrent, garlic is supposed to be toxic, and a stake through the heart makes a good killing weapon.


When writing my story, I asked myself, why? Why can’t vampires handle the sunlight? Why do holy relics bother them? What is the deal with garlic? What does bloodlust feel like? I wanted to give the reader a real, solid reason behind the answers to these questions. I wanted to make my vampires real enough to step out of the pages.


With all that in mind, I set out to deliver a story that let you experience, vicariously, the transformation from human to full fledged vampire.


To survive as a vampire, one must learn to, Carpe Noctem (Seize the Night).


While reading, you, the reader, will learn what it takes to be a vampire; you will experience the gut wrenching feeling of blood lust. You will make your first kill. You will feel the high and experience the guilt. If you can get over that, you will learn to hone your new supernatural abilities. In the end, you might even like being a creature of the night.


Of course, only you, the readers can tell me if I accomplished this task well enough. Immortalis Carpe Noctem, the first in my new vampire series is available everywhere you look to purchase books online. Please pick up a copy and see for your self if Alyssa’s world has the bite you need.


Thanks for having me stop by your blog. I’ve had a great time with this guest post!


Please visit Katie's website and check back on May 28th for my review of this very interesting book.

GIVEAWAY AND REVIEW OF THE AUDIO BOOK ABRAHAM LINCOLN- VAMPIRE HUNTER BY S. GRAHAME-SMITH

What do you really know about Abraham Lincoln? In the book Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Seth Grahame-Smith takes us on a journey into the life of the 16th president, the Civil War and of course vampires. The story opens up in the little town of Rhinebeck NY where the author is taking a break from writing and working in a five and dime shop. He meets an unusual character, Henry, who is very strange, quiet and always wearing sunglasses. Henry leaves a package with a note on the front desk. He walks out of the store telling Seth to read the note first. Seth is fascinated with the package and goes into the basement, reads the note, opens the package and then something strange occurs. I do not want to spoil the book for you so I will never tell. Inside the package were ten leather-bound books. On the first page of the first book was written "This is the journal of Abraham Lincoln." Then the adventure begins.


Indiana, 1818. Moonlight falls through the dense woods that surround a one-room cabin, where a nine-year-old Abraham Lincoln kneels at his suffering mother's bedside. She's been stricken with something the old-timers call "Milk Sickness."


"My baby boy..." she whispers before dying.


Only later will the grieving Abe learn that his mother's fatal affliction was actually the work of a vampire.


When the truth becomes known to young Lincoln, he writes in his journal, "henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose..." Gifted with his legendary height, strength, and skill with an ax, Abe sets out on a path of vengeance that will lead him all the way to the White House.


My Thoughts-

I really enjoyed the audio book. Although the cover was creepy, I just wanted to learn more about "Honest Abe." I have always been fascinated with vampires and the author did a great job depicting them. They are not your typical vampire but gruesome and brutal. The narrator Scott Holst did a fantastic job reading the book. Sometimes I felt that I was right there next to Abe and watching the whole scene. The author was able to combine history with horror and I really enjoyed the photos.  So do you want to win a copy of this great audio book enter my contest.





CONTEST-

Thanks to the folks at Hachette Book Group I can giveaway 3 copies of the Audio Book-

US or Canada only.
No Po Boxes.
Prize will be sent by the publisher.

ALL ENTRIES IN ONE COMMENT PLEASE AND LEAVE AN EMAIL.

+1 entry for a comment
+3 entry for Google follow ( Google Connect on right)
+1 for sharing on facebook ( use share button below)
+1 For following me on Facebook (melissa.gingerhigh)
+1 entry for Twitter Follow @ginger_high
+2 for tweeting about the contest(please leave link to be counted)
      Win a copy of A. Lincoln Vampire Hunter (Audio Book) #Giveaway from @ginger_high Enter here http://ow.ly/1KmOw Ends May 27th
+3 entries for blogging about contest (post link)
+2 For grabbing my button- Please leave the link to the site to be counted.

Contest ends May 27th at 12MN Eastern




Disclaimer: I was given a free copy of the Audio Book by the Hachette Book Group for my honest review and I was not compensated for my review.

GIVEAWAY AND REVIEW OF SHADOWS OF MYTH AND LEGEND BY E.J. STEVENS

Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J Stevens, may be only fifty four pages long but it is filled with poems about vampires, demons and other creatures of the night. It is not your typical book of poetry but “dark poetry”. I have always been a fan of the supernatural and I enjoyed the book. The author has a wonderful imagination and some of her poems were chilling. I recommend this book to everyone who is not afraid of the dark and what lurks within it.

About the Author- 

E.J. Stevens is a graduate of the University of Maine at Farmington with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. E.J. has worked a variety of jobs that demonstrate the human condition including schools, psychiatric hospitals and (*shudder*) shopping malls. She currently resides on the coast of Maine where she finds daily inspiration for her writing.

Authors Website


Watch the Trailer-



AND NOW FOR THE CONTEST-

 Thanks to the author,I am able to give away a signed copy of the book and a swag pack for one lucky winner.

TO ENTER- PUT ALL ENTRIES IN ONE COMMENT AND INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL



+1 entry for a comment
+3 entry for Google follow ( Google Connect on right- it pays to follow me)
+1 for sharing on facebook ( use share button below)
+1 For following me on Facebook (melissa.gingerhigh)
+1 entry for Twitter Follow @ginger_high
+2 for tweeting about the contest(please leave link to be counted)
+2 entries for blogging about contest (post link)
+2 For grabbing my button- Please leave the link to the site to be counted.

Contest ends May 5th at 12MN Eastern.



Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the author for my honest review and opinion. I was not compensated for my review.

BLOG TOUR AND REVIEW OF THE TWILIGHT GOSPEL BY D. ROBERTS

The Twilight series has become  a major rave in the last couple of years. What are the hidden meanings behind the story? In the The Twilight Gospel: The Spiritual Roots of the Stephenie Meyer Vampire Saga, Mr. Roberts delves into the spiritual roots of the vampire saga. He discusses many of the values and ideas that S. Meyers wants to express in her books. He discusses a variety of topics including fear, enchantment, family, sexuality, myths and legends, and many other topics. In the beginning of the book, he summarizes all of the books in the series including Midnight Sun. If you have never read the series, there are a few spoilers offered. Vampires were always considered evil and the twilight series was considered controversial and many parents did not want their teens to read it.
I have read all of the books and I felt that Roberts did a good job in explaining the saga on a Christian point of view.
The book was a quick and easy read. In the ending of the book the author mentions that the series should be read with caution because there are flaws. Everyone has their own opinions and the book gives you an insight into the author’s feelings on the subject. The book is a good reference to the characters of the story and there are scriptures included to help explain the information. If you want to dive deeper in the true meaning of the series, this is the book for you. I have always been interested in the supernatural and vampires and I will always read books about them. Does that make me a bad Christian? No, I am well rounded and open to new ideas.

About the Author-

Dave Roberts is the author of the best-selling The Toronto Blessing and Red Moon Rising with joint sales in excess of 100,000. He is a former editor of Christianity and won awards for his work on Renewal magazine. He is a local church pastor and conference director for three major annual conferences on worship, children's ministry, and women's ministry.

CONTEST-

Do you want to be entered to win a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com?

Tweet this: (and be sure to use the hashtag #thetwilightgospel)
Understand cultural and Biblical insights surrounding the Twilight Saga by reading #TheTwilightGospel. Please RT! http://ow.ly/1vjc6p

Check out all of the other stops on the Blog tour here.





Disclaimer: I received a free book from Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I was not compensated for my review.

VIRTUAL TOUR AND REVIEW OF VAMPYRE BLOOD BY GEORGE EARL PARKER

Join George Earl Parker, author of the literary fiction novel, VAMPYRE BLOOD: Eight Pints of Trouble (BookLocker) , as he virtually tours the blogosphere on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book!

In the book Vampyre Blood, Count Dracula is tired of being chased throughout Transylvania by angry villagers. On the advice of his friend, Igor, he decides to go to America. While walking in the woods he meets a wizard who lifts the vampyre curse and sends him to America 150 years later. Igor suggested that he hire a lawyer to help him with his affairs. He wakes up in the future and meets a strange man called Waldo. He is in a band called the Techno Zombies and the Count fits right in. The Count attempts to hire a lawyer, but they all think he is nuts and throws him out of their offices. What is a Count to do?

Meet Brad,who is a new lawyer. On his first day in the DA office, he was made lead prosecutor on a mob boss case. He was shocked at the decision. Why was it given to him and not to the star attorney Richard Bleddon? Brad and his wife, Julia, are invited out to dinner by Richard. When they get there Julia’s purse is stolen and when Brad attempts to get it back, he is hit by a car. While he is dying and heading toward the light, he is approached by an entity who claims to be Count Dracula. The Count says that he can help him if Brad becomes his lawyer. The Count donated eight pints of blood that was transfused into Brad. The doctors are mesmerized on the recovery of Brad. Brad has problems of his own and has to deal with them throughout the story. There are numerous shady characters introduced throughout the story. I would love to tell you more but I would ruin the story for you. I guess you have to go out and buy the book.

About The Author-

George Earl Parker is an Author, Singer/Songwriter, and an Artist.

As director of the short film The Yellow Submarine Sandwich, included in Eric Idle’s pseudo-documentary of a band called the Rutles, Parker received accolades, awards, and a showing at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
His art has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the country, and three of his songs have climbed the European Country Music Association charts.
Vampyre Blood-Eight Pints of Trouble is his first novel. He currently lives in California where he continues working on music, and his second book

My Thoughts-


I have always been a fan of vampires and the supernatural. George Parker is a talented author. He has the ability to catch his readers and keep their attention throughout the book. There were many humorous parts and there was a lot of adventure. I highly recommend this book. Get the book and enjoy the ride through New Orleans with Count Dracula and all of the other crazy characters in the book. If you want to take a break from reading and enjoy some great music check out his songs. You will be glad you did.



Disclaimer: I was provided a free copy from the author for my honest review. I was not compensated for the review.

WHAT IS THE BITE ON VAMPIRES?

In October, my book Ginger High was on tour and this was one of the articles that I had written. I hope you enjoy it.

What is the Bite on Vampires?

Everyone has their own opinion on how a vampire is expected to act and look. Some people think of a vampire as a horrid creature with huge blood dripping fangs and others say they are like normal people and live among us. When writing about vampires it is important to make the character appear “human” and “real”. This will give them more appeal.
The characteristics that most vampires have are:
1. Vampires do not prey on just anyone they have a person they use as a “feeder” and when they get weak they always come back to them.
2. They do not like to feed off children and animals.
3. The vampires may keep some blood in the refrigerator in case their “feeder” is not available. It is usually hidden so no one can find it.
4. Vampires have been around for many years and tend to move around from place to place. They also have a lot of money and can get anything they want.
5. They are charming and look great. That makes them so appealing to us.
6. Not all vampires drain blood from their victims. Some have the ability through magic to drain the person of their energy and liveliness.
7. So how do you kill or annoy them:
    1. Cut off their head or make them drink blood from a dead person.
    2. Garlic will never kill them. It just makes them very angry.
    3. The good old stake through the heart. I read that it only paralyzes them for a while and does not kill them.
    4. They do not burn or blow up when exposed to light. It may weaken them but they always recover.

So now that you know some of the characteristics of a vampire how do you write about them:
1. You need to decide on the time period you want your novel to be in. Many of the novels are set in modern day or in the future. Some novels have flashbacks into the vampires past. I used this idea in my debut novel Ginger High.
2. Never make the vampire seem dead or depressed. The character should blend in with the population. Make them appear mysterious and alive.
3. It is important to surround the vampire with realistic details. This is important so the reader feels that they are able to connect with the vampire and the setting.
4. A horror novel should have something horrifying in it. The vampire is always considered the bad guy and the human usually wins. Everyone likes the fangs that the vampires have. Incorporate them in the story.
5. When naming a vampire always use a name that is appropriate for their age and character. They usually keep the name when they were alive.

I have given you a few tips on how to write about vampires. So go out and write your own bestseller. But the most important thing is that you have fun while doing it. The information that I provided was obtained from all the reading that I have done over the years. Have Fun.

Check out my web site http://www.gingerhigh.com/