#bookreview ~ Herbal Lore #herbalremedies @SimmillKj

Herbal Lore

by

K.J. Simmill

 

This book contains details on how to prepare and apply herbs for either medicinal or magical purposes. It lists numerous herbs and their common uses in both medicine and magical practices and details the healing and magical attributes of colours, as well how to make various magical items.

What did I think of the book?

Herbal Lore, A Guide to Herbal Medicine is the most comprehensive book on Herbal Medicine that I have ever read — and I have read a fair few! Not only does this book discuss a variety of herbs and their uses, but more importantly it gives you step by step instructions on how to use them. I have yet to come across a book that tells you how to take an extract, make an infusion, a tea, a tincture, a compress, a lotion, etc... Usually, I have to rely on Google to find these things out. It is great that all this information is in one book.

There are also comprehensive instructions on how to make a herbal bag, a candle, incense and a Pomander! This book covers it all.

This is a book that I am sure I will be referring to again and again.

I Highly Recommend this book.

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

K.J. Simmill is a British author with books released in both the fantasy and non-fiction genres. It is her intention to ensure each book she writes will donate a percentage of her royalties to a good cause.

She is a qualified Usui Reiki master, with certifications in various fields of holistic therapy. inclusive of aromatherapy, crystal healing, colour therapy, ethereal Reiki, Indian head massage, shaman power Reiki, sound therapy, and massage therapy. She has also spent many years researching various practices of magic and herbal medicine. She is also currently working towards a herbal practitioner qualification.

When she is not writing, she is an avid reader and a passionate gamer.

It is K.J's aim for each one of her titles to donate a percentage of the author royalties to a different charity. Herbal Lore is donating 15% to The St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and Darrienia is donating 10% to the University Hospital of North Midlands (UHNM) charity directed towards the Neonatal intensive care unit.

#bookreview ~ Once Upon a Summer Night #Romance #timetravel @NancyScanlon1

Once Upon a Summer Night:

Mists of Fate - Book Three

By

Nancy Scanlon

 

Colin O’Rourke’s elite matchmaking service is taking off until Winifred Emsworth, Great Britain’s most influential gossip columnist, writes a scathing article about it. She’ll retract the column…if Colin can match her shy, bookish niece with a modern British aristocrat.

But that’s not Colin’s only problem. As one of the O’Rourke time-traveling Guardians, Colin’s destined for one woman only. His thinks he’s found her when she wanders into his cousin’s garden, but she leaves before he can get her name. If he doesn’t track her down again, he’ll never know true love.

Eleanor Carberry is happy with her life as a bookshop owner, and she knows she has her dear aunt Winifred to thank for it—especially as Winnie helped smooth over a very public breakup and a very personal loss. Her aunt has never expected anything in return, so when she asks Ellie to help vet an American matchmaking company, Ellie reluctantly agrees.

When Colin and Ellie meet, Colin realizes she’s the woman from the garden. He’s bound by contract to find her an Englishman, or he’ll lose the business he’s worked so hard to grow. Despite the distance he tries to keep between them, Fate has other plans when Ellie takes an unexpected trip back in time—once upon a summer night.

What did I think of the book?

From cosmopolitan London to 15th Century Ireland, Once Upon a Summer Night: Mists of Fate, will take you on an unforgettable journey.

With a beautiful, compelling, storyline. This sweet romance has a lot going for it.

I adored the premise of the story — Colin O’Rourke is a time-travelling Guardian of the O'Rourke tribe as well as a successful businessman. When he isn't travelling through time to ensure the safety of his clan, he is helping others find their soul mates with his match-making company, Celtic Connections. But, unlike his clients, Colin avoids love. He knows that out there somewhere is his soul mate, the one woman who he will be connected to for all time. However, Colin would never ask any woman to share the life he lives — it wouldn't be fair.

Once bitten, twice shy, Eleanor Carberry has closed her heart off to the possibility of loving again. But then she meets Colin and everything changes. Now all she has to do is convince Colin to open his heart, take a chance, and love her back and then, maybe, just maybe, they will have their happy ever after fairy-tale.

The romance is elegant in the telling, and it works so well with the principle of the story. This book is all about emotions, feelings, the heart. It is timeless. Add to the mix a little bit of time-travel and you have a fantastic read. I had to admit, that I was so enjoying the romance, that I forgot all about it being a time-travel book until the heroine ended up in 15^th Century Ireland! The time-travel element doesn’t dominate this book, although make no mistake it does happen and when it does happen it is very believable. Putting that aside, what I like about the book was the way love was describe as traversing time. It would be. It was. Despite what Colin has to say about it!

Once Upon a Summer Night: Mists of Fate is a very enjoyable read and if you like clean romance with time-travel set in those Emerald Isles, then this is the book for you.

I Highly Recommend.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley, and I chose to leave a review*

Links for Purchase

(Available for pre-order

release 11^th April 2017)

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

Born and raised near Boston, MA, Nancy wrote her first romance novel at age 16, when she realized that fictional boyfriends were much easier to figure out than real ones. In the time since, she managed to earn her B.A. in English from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, obtain a graduate certificate in creative writing from the University of Cambridge, and marry the man of her dreams (but she still holds tight to her fictional boyfriends).

Nancy adores all things misty, caffeinated, chocolate and grammatically correct. Currently, she resides in Puerto Rico with her husband, two small children, and two not-so-small dogs.

When not writing, Nancy spends her time reading romance and watching too much HGTV

#bookreview ~ The Scribe’s Daughter #historicalfantasy @WriterChurchill

The Scribe’s Daughter

by

Stephanie Churchill

 

 

Kassia is a thief and a soon-to-be oath breaker. Armed with only a reckless wit and sheer bravado, seventeen-year-old Kassia barely scrapes out a life with her older sister in a back-alley of the market district of the Imperial city of Corium. When a stranger shows up at her market stall, offering her work for which she is utterly unqualified, Kassia cautiously takes him on. Very soon however, she finds herself embroiled in a mystery involving a usurped foreign throne and a vengeful nobleman. Most intriguing of all, she discovers clues to the disappearance of her father three years prior. When Kassia is forced to flee her home, suffering extreme hardship, danger and personal trauma along the way, she feels powerless to control what happens around her. Rewarding revelations concerning the mysteries of her family’s past are tempered by the reality of a future she doesn’t want. In the end, Kassia discovers an unyielding inner strength, and that contrary to her prior beliefs, she is not defined by external things -- she discovers that she is worthy to be loved.

What did I think of the book?

There are some books that you can disappear into, lose track of time and become completely embroiled in the world that the author has created — The Scribe's Daughter is one of those books.

Ms Churchill has created a masterpiece of historical fantasy. Told in the first person, The Scribe’s Daughter tells the story of seventeen-year-old Kassia, a poverty-stricken orphan, who has mastered the art of thievery to ensure that she keeps bread on the table. She is very protective of her older sister who doesn't seem to understand the seriousness of their situation — there is no money for rent, let alone food. So when a stranger offers Kassia a job and gives her a bag of coins, her poverty forces her to accept it, even though her head is telling her not to. But in doing so, she seals her fate and the world that she knows will be lost to her. Along the way, she will meet friends and foes alike. She will suffer loss, abuse and hardship, but she will also discover just how strong and courageous she really is and maybe, just maybe, she will find everlasting love when she least expects it.

What I really loved about this book was the realism. There was nothing unbelievable about this story. There are some very upsetting scenes in The Scribe's Daughter, but Ms Churchill made some really good choices — this author knows where to draw the line. Some terrible things happen to Kassia,  but we don't read about them. What we do read is the emotional and physical recovery, which isn't an overnight thing. Kassia is very human. She doesn't get up, brush herself off and be done with it. She suffers, but she is a courageous soul and has an iron will that will not be beaten into submission.

Kassia is a very strong female lead that I couldn't help but admire. Faced with incredible trials and adversary she somehow finds the strength to carry on. Kassia got under my skin, she was so real in the telling, and so very believable that it was hard to think of her as a fictional character!

As a secondary character, I thought Jack was wonderful. An unlikely friend who very soon became Kassia's rock. He gives her hope, acceptance and reassurance when she has moments of doubt. He gets her, like no one else does. I loved reading how their relationship developed over the course of the book.

Despite the terrible things that happen in this book, it isn't a depressing read. Kassia is the source of much humour. She is very good with words, and she is a master at sarcasm! Some of her one-liners certainly made me laugh out loud.

The prose of the story is well-thought out. Make no mistakes; A Scribe’s Daughter is a compelling read and time certainly flew by while I lost myself within the pages. The plot is super engaging and throws up one or two unexpected curve-balls! I so didn't see where this book was going.

The Scribe’s Daughter is an example of historical fantasy at its best, but don't take my word for it, check it out for yourself.

I Highly Recommend.

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

AmazonUK

About the author

I used to live my life as an unsuspecting part of the reading public. Spending my days in a Georgetown law firm just outside downtown Washington, D.C., by all outward appearances I was a paralegal working in international trade and then antitrust law. I liked books, and I read them often, but that's all I was: a reader of books.

When my husband and I got married, I moved to the Minneapolis metro area and found work as a corporate paralegal, specializing in corporate formation, mergers & acquisitions, and corporate finance. Again, by all outward appearances, I was a paralegal and a reader of books.

And then one day, while on my lunch break, I visited the neighboring Barnes & Noble and happened upon a book by author Sharon Kay Penman, and while I'd never heard of her before, I took a chance and bought the book. That day I became a reader of historical fiction.

Fast forward a dozen years or so, and I had become a rabid fan of Sharon Kay Penman's books as well as historical fiction in general. Because of a casual comment she'd made on social media, I wrote Ms. Penman a ridiculously long review of her latest book, Lionheart. As a result of that review, she asked me what would become the most life-changing question: "Have you ever thought about writing?" And The Scribe's Daughter was born.

When I'm not writing or taxiing my two children to school or other activities, I'm likely walking Cozmo, our dog or reading another book to review. The rest of my time is spent trying to survive the murderous intentions of Minnesota's w

#bookreview ~ Quincunx I #scific #fantasy @larrydshack

Quincunx I

By

Larry Shackelford

 

Quincunx I is a fast-paced urban fantasy/science fiction romance story that takes place in the small town of Neosho in Southwestern Missouri, where classified military research was conducted on prisoners of war detainees at nearby Camp Crowder during WWII. Unbeknownst to the locals, the abandoned military base is home to a subterranean species of human mutants. When local students suddenly go missing, law enforcement officials are alerted to the presence of thousands of violent creatures that quickly manifest to the surface and wreak havoc on the military and the American Midwest. The terrifying creatures carry a mysterious virus that is highly contagious and lethal. Scientists and military experts must work furiously against the clock to unravel government secrets and contain the bloodthirsty mutants. Dr. Judy Davis is a professor of Genetics and Anthropology at a University in St. Louis, Missouri. Over fifteen years ago, she was tasked by the government to complete a top-secret research project at Camp Crowder. Her findings were alarming and unprecedented; however, her report was never released to the public and she was led to believe that the human test subjects did not survive. When the Camp Crowder specimens present an immediate global threat to human health and safety, she is partnered with a humorless FBI Special Agent, Max Guthrie, to assist in the investigation. One of the missing students, Brian, is the teenaged son of a local high school English teacher, Paul Cameron. Paul is frustrated by the local sheriff's apparent apathy and goes to search for his son. Meanwhile, Brian escapes with Judy, Max, and a medical examiner, Dr. Janet Wiggins, after a failed attempt by the U.S. military and FBI to eliminate the formidable creatures from the area's underground caves. The survivors take refuge at Paul's great-grandpa Jake's farm house, located a few miles outside of Neosho, where the family is reunited. The creatures soon surface. Social media warns the general public about the pending epidemic and chaos ensues. It is soon discovered that the virus carried by the creatures is not only transmitted by contact, but after a brief incubation period, the virus becomes airborne. Troy Miller, another FBI agent, convinces everyone to travel to the west coast where his brother is waiting with a boat. They determine they have a better chance of survival if they flee to the Hawaiian Islands. The government shuts down all media communication in an attempt to control the flow of information. Paul and the others embark on a cross-country road trip from Neosho to Los Angeles to meet up with Troy's brother before it is too late.

What did I make of the book?

Think The Walking Dead but with mutants!

Do not go to Camp Crowder, strange things have happened there. That is what the teenagers of the small town of "Neosho" in Southwestern Missouri, have been told. But hey, that is just a story to frighten little kids from hurting themselves in the dilapidated buildings…isn’t it?

The local law enforcement is used to prank calls from board teenagers ~ it is a small town, after all, ~ so when they get a call from a young girl, screaming down that phone, and begging them to come to Camp Crowder, they do not take it seriously. They do not send out a patrol. But when worried parents contact them the next day about their missing teenagers, they decided to take a quick look at Camp Crowder. It is then, they realise, their grave mistake.

Dr Judy Davis ~ a professor of Genetics and Anthropology at the University in St. Louis, Missouri ~ hoped never to hear of Camp Crowder again. For she is one of those unlucky few who knows the truth. Judy knows about the secret experiments that took place there. Fast-forward fifteen years ~ Judy mistakenly believes that the past is behind her. Judy had thought that all the test subjects had been destroyed. She realises now that she was wrong.

I have never read a book so fast in my life! The action in Quincunx I was non-stop, and the storyline was gripping. This is a sit-on-the-edge of your seat read that turns Midwest America into a dystopian world of nightmares.

I was a little concerned, initially, about the tense in which this story is told ~ it switches from First to Third Person. This is a difficult thing to pull off without losing the momentum of the story, but Shackleford nailed it, and in this book it totally works.

The characterisation is fantastic. I particularly liked Grandpa Jake ~ he may be in his eighties, but he wasn't going to go down without a fight, and some of the things he came out made me chuckle.

Quincunx I is a great read, and it is definitely on my repeat to read list.

I Highly Recommend.

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

Larry was raised in southwest Missouri where he received his college degree, but he received his education after he graduated and began working in a maximum-security federal prison. After spending two years behind bars, he continued his law enforcement career as a criminal investigator, residing and working in eight states and two foreign countries. Larry retired from law enforcement after twenty-five years of service and resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and cat.

#bookreview ~ Biohackers: “The Phantom Menace” #cyberpunk #Fantasy

Biohackers:

"Phantom Menace"

By

Dean C. Moore

 

Two-thirds of the way through the series starter, the singularity reaction had already begun. Explosive technological growth beyond human comprehension caught everyone up so that it was impossible to look out your window from day to day without feeling like a stranger in a strange land. The vista constantly repainted by billions of citizen-scientists forever creating the world anew. Aircars one day. Soaring dragons the next.

The explosion of innovation was driven by neuronets. Everyone’s got one. The nanites in the air self-assemble into them as soon as they permeate your being. And they’re in everything, the air, the water…

The singularity reaction was deemed inevitable. It hardly mattered what exactly brought it about; it was always going to be something.

Roman, who fought so hard to protect “the best of all possible worlds,” finds it isn’t heaven on earth they’ve fabricated, but the perfect hell world. Perfect because no one in their right mind would want to escape it. It is thus escape-proof. It’s an Age of Abundance, after all. All human needs met. Anything your mind can dream up, you can manifest.

He realized new challenges would lie across the threshold separating humanity from transhumanity. But what he got was a mindless beehive that wouldn’t stop humming with activity. It was like a planet-wide form of OCD.

He and the rest of the Daytona commune biohackers, based in backwards Oregon, don’t have long to work before they too lose their will to resist the Sirens.

And the clock is ticking not just on them. As the Singularity Wave pushes genetically engineered humanoids across the cosmos in ships powered by warp drive engines. Soon the heavens will be populated with hell worlds modeled according to the same flaw in design.

What did I think of the book?

Where do I start? I have just come back from a mind-boggling journey.  I need a moment to catch my breath!

Fast-paced doesn't do this book justice. So much happens and it happens so quickly. I tried to put this book down, I really tried, but oh my days, I felt like a magnet, I was drawn back, and in the end, I gave up trying to fight it. I sat down and refused to be interrupted until I had finished it.

Imagine the world that we live in now ~ the TV shows, the clothes, etc... and then imagine, if you will, advances in technology exploding overnight to beyond anything you can imagine, to the extent where even those who live in this futuristic world(s) can't comprehend it. What a concept.

This book isn't your average SciFic read. It is so much more than that. It is completely mental, and I mean that in a good way. I was sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what on earth was going to happen next. There were moment's where I grimace, and then I turned the page, and I mean turn the page, and suddenly I was laughing. I mean seriously...how often does that happen in a book.

If you are interested in some very grown-up SciFic and you don't mind being thrown into a world that seems really similar but isn't then this is the book for you!

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

I live in the country where I breed bluebirds, which are endangered in these parts, as my small contribution to restoring nature's balance. When I'm not writing, or researching my next book, I may also be found socializing with friends, or working in my organic garden.

While Sci-Fi, hi-tech thrillers, and Fantasy are my fortes, I also stray into other genres from time to time, particularly action adventure or some blend of any or all of the above. My bigger books are epics in the true sense of the word.

Mark Freeman Enterprises (MFE) is my company. Right now it just handles me, but with time I would like to produce other writers, as well.

If you'd like to know what compels me to write, it's simple. I write as a force for peace. Fiction has a way of engaging our whole minds, not just our intellects, but various layers of our conscious, superconscious, and unconscious. Novels also encourage our left and right cerebral hemispheres to get in sync and, with just enough magic and wizardry, can help to transform people into more enlightened souls (the writer included) better than a hundred years of therapy or rational arguments to the same ends.

I've remained a lifelong student of philosophy, spirituality, psychology, science, and the arts.

#bookreview ~ Tenets of Time #thriller #crime @larrydshack

Tenets of Time

By

Larry Shackelford

 

Tenets of Time is a fast paced crime fiction novel packed with action, adventure, and romance. Kevin Johnson works as a federal correctional officer at the El Reno prison near his hometown of Yukon, Oklahoma. Kevin also lives a double life as a secret agent working for a clandestine organization known as IS International, whose mission is to assist people with unconventional problems that cannot be resolved through traditional judicial processes. Kevin plans to work at the federal prison for a few more years, retire with benefits, and disappear off grid to enjoy an affluent retirement. However, Kevin’s world changes when he reconnects with Cheri Henry, a former classmate. He falls in love with Cheri and bonds with her son, Chas. Kevin is grateful to be part of a real family again, and becomes happier than he ever imagined. Meanwhile, international intelligence operatives discover IS International and it's lucrative assets, and plot a hostile takeover. Kevin's perfect life and the people he loves will be destroyed unless he can stop the evil network.

What did I make of the book?

 

Mr Shakelford is my favourite crime writer, and I always look forward to reading his latest release. I am glad to say that this book did not disappoint.

Kevin Johnson seems like a regular type of guy ~ he has a regular job and regular friends. But unbeknown to anyone, Kevin leads a double life. He is a secret agent working for IS International. There are risks involved working for IS International, but the money Kevin earns more than makes up for any risks. But then the unthinkable happens, someone hacks into IS International's computers, the organization is compromised, and life as Kevin knows it will never be the same again.

Tenets of Time is a fast-paced action crime novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning those pages. It is one of those books you really need to dedicate some "me" time to read — because once you start, you are not going to want to put it down. Saying this book is an enjoyable read is an understatement. I loved it, and I know you will too!!

Shackelford's books are always very real in the telling, he is a master at writing realistic crime novels, which is why they appeal to me so much. I eagerly look forward to his next book.

If you like believable crime stories, then this is the book for you.
I Highly Recommend.

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

Larry was raised in southwest Missouri where he received his college degree, but he received his education after he graduated and began working in a maximum-security federal prison. After spending two years behind bars, he continued his law enforcement career as a criminal investigator, residing and working in eight states and two foreign countries. Larry retired from law enforcement after twenty-five years of service and resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and cat.

#bookreview ~ A New Beginning #histfic #Romance @KansasCrossroad

A New Beginning

(Kansas Crossroads Book 1)

By

Amelia C. Adams

Handsome young heir Adam Brody sees nothing but possibilities in the sprawling old building he's just purchased. With a little hard work, he will transform it into a hotel to meet the needs of those traveling by railroad. Aunt Caroline believes he's lost his mind, but she agrees to help him give it a try.

Left a widow with a small daughter, Elizabeth Caldwell must find work. When she sees an advertisement in the newspaper inquiring about cheerful young women to work in a hotel, she decides to apply. However, the hotel owner specifically requested single ladies, so she must hide her former marital status, and her child, if she wishes to get the job.

With cloudy pasts to overcome, both Adam and Elizabeth want to believe in a bright future. Will they find the strength they need in each other, or will their differences keep them apart?

What did I think of the book?

This book really got under my skin. The writing is flawless, elegant and just plain lovely. Ms Adam's captured my attention with the opening sentence and, from there on in, I was hooked.

Ms Adam’s has brought 19th Century Kansas back to life — she has done her research. I can honestly say that reading this book was like a symphony to the senses. I could feel the heat of the sun. See the dust on the road and almost taste Agatha’s cake (I so want the recipe). This book was all-consuming and completely enthralling.

A New Beginning is a classic love story and is a compelling page-turner. The romance between Adam and Elizabeth has been beautifully composed and very believable. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the romance unfold.

There are some interesting side characters in this book — I especially liked Aunt Caroline and Harriet. I was very pleased to discover that A New Beginning is Book 1 of a series. I can't wait to read the rest of the books.

This book has a big thumb’s up for me. But be warned, make sure you have a couple of hours spare before you pick this book up because you are so not going to want to put it down.

I Highly Recommend.

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

Amelia C. Adams is a wife, a mother, and a novelist. She spends her days dreaming up stories and her nights writing them down. Her biggest hero is her husband, and you might just see bits and pieces of him as you read her novels.

She loves all things historical and enjoys learning about days gone by, but she's glad she was born more recently (she won't say how recently or not recently) because the Internet is awesome, and she's glad she doesn't have to wash her clothes by hand in a galvanized tub. She has hit Amazon bestseller status twice, once for A Clean Slate and once for A Clear Hope.

You can reach Amelia at ameliaadamsauthor@gmail.com or visit her at www.a

#bookreview ~ A Bed of Wild Roses #Regency #Romance @wackyjackyful

A Bed of Wild Roses

Flowers of the Aristocracy (Untamed Regency Book 1)

By

Jackie Williams

A Regency Mystery Romance.

An innocent kiss might not have sealed her fate. Even a scandalously slippery jelly could be explained away. But revealing one’s long hidden charms to the local nobility can only lead Lady Felicity into marriage or ruination.

How could a childhood game become so complicated? How could a dessert behave so decadently? And how could his own shrubbery become so untamed? Caught between debt, honour, and Felicity’s more than irate brother, Lord Algernon Barclay’s immediate future can only lead in one direction. Straight into a parson’s noose.

But even while reconciling themselves to their fate, a killer stalks. Amid attempted murder, thieving relatives, and renovating an impoverished estate, will they surrender to their shared attraction, or will Algernon’s stubborn heart convince her to give up and leave him.

What did I think of the book?

It has been a while since I have read a Regency Romance, and I was looking forward to diving in between the covers of A Bed Of Wild Roses. If the blurb was anything to go by then, this book was going to be a terrific read.

I had high expectations for this book, and I am pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed. This book had everything a great Regency Romance needs. A terrific historical backdrop. A dashing hero. A feminine yet, feisty heroine. An evil antagonist and a would-be brother-in-law who kept getting the wrong end of the stick, with sometimes disastrous, but amusing, consequences.

The story was fast-paced and very engaging. I adored the characterisation of all the characters, especially Algernon, Felicity and Brendon. They all had very distinct personalities and were very real in the telling.

The romance was swoon worthy. It was beautifully portrayed and very easy to get lost in. I loved it!

If you love quality Regency Romance, then check out A Bed of Wild Roses.

I Highly Recommend.

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

Amazon UK

About the author

I was born in Essex England during the mid sixties but I missed all the fun. Being only young I assumed that all Beatles were six legged creatures and Flower Power was something to do with the vigorous way my mother kneaded the bread dough.

My wonderful parents brought me up with a huge love of books. We read anything and everything. Bedtime stories were a treasured time of adventure and mystery. My sister and I sat wide eyed in wonder and to this day I worry about Dinah and Dorinda being pricked with pins because they grew so fat, and I never pull faces at the a waning moon (or was it a waxing one?) just in case my chops stay that way . (The Wind On The Moon)

I began reading romance while still at school. The fuel for many a teenage fantasy leapt from between the covers of wildly romantic books and my passion still lingers now for all those dark haired heroes.

My own beautiful teenage daughter persuaded me to write my first romance. She was only fourteen at the time and between books for children and adults. She couldn’t find anything that ticked all her numerous and particular boxes and so she asked me to write a book, with all the exact ingredients just for her. Though not just a book for teens, she enjoyed the resulting tale so much that she shared it with her friends and I eventually published A Perfect Summer as an ebook on amazon.

But I have discovered that writing is not easily stopped once you start. It has turned into a grand passion that I just cannot hold back. The fingertips start tapping the keys and ideas suddenly come flooding, far too many for just one book and so I began another and then another. Nine books later I am still nowhere near done. Book ten is on its way and only just the other night I woke from a wild and wonderful dream with book eleven fully formed in my head.

Romance will always be my first love but recently I was so influenced by a tiny polished plaque on a sea wall that I gave paranormal romance a try. (Echo Beach) Mixing the two genres was a real challenge for me but I was delighted with the result. Historical romance is going to be my next genre. All those fabulously titled and passionate men are impossibly hard to resist.

#Newrelease ~ Ivellians #scific #fantasy @larrydshack

Ivellians

By

Larry Shackelford

 

 

Ivellians is a fast-paced, science fiction romance story.  The Ivellians possess human characteristics and have come to earth in a last effort to preserve their species.  Unfortunately for the human race, the Ivellians are carnivorous and their soldiers feast on human flesh.  Their ruthless leader, A'Vu, has commanded his soldiers to eliminate the human males and capture females and children.  The Ivellian males believe their females are no longer capable of reproducing, so they intend to mate with the genetically comparable human females. 

Gower Gee is an accomplished Drug Enforcement Agent who is struggling with his professional and personal lives.  When the invasion begins, his commercial airplane inexplicably crashes near a small, secluded island in the Caribbean.  He is one of only a handful of survivors who encounter a marooned Ivellian female, M'ala, who provides them with the key to eliminating the Ivellians.  He is assisted by a unique cast of characters, which include a gay couple, responsible and pragmatic Michael and the flamboyant and endearing Jules.  They are also accompanied by a beautiful school teacher, Sasha, and they collectively believe they will have a better chance of survival if they sail back to the United States. Before they reach land, they meet up with feisty Tabitha and another Ivellian female, P'upi, who assists them.

The castaways are alarmed by the unprecedented destruction they encounter when they arrive back in Miami.  Time is running out. If the human race is going to survive, Gower realizes that he will have to sacrifice his life.  His unselfish task will result in losing the woman of his dreams, Sasha, whom he has fallen deeply in love with.  Gower embarks on a difficult journey to Washington, D.C., where he implements his plan, and he never imagined his efforts would end so tragically.   agent, convinces everyone to travel to the west coast where his brother is waiting with a boat. They determine they have a better chance of survival if they flee to the Hawaiian Islands. The government shuts down all media communication in an attempt to control the flow of information. Paul and the others embark on a cross-country road trip from Neosho to Los Angeles to meet up with Troy's brother before it is too late.

Links for Purchase

Amazon US

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About the author

Larry was raised in southwest Missouri where he received his college degree, but he received his education after he graduated and began working in a maximum-security federal prison. After spending two years behind bars, he continued his law enforcement career as a criminal investigator, residing and working in eight states and two foreign countries. Larry retired from law enforcement after twenty-five years of service and resides in Salt Lake City with his wife and cat.