INTRODUCING: EVERYBODY'S SOMEBODY by D. Breeze

Rhianne Shepard is odd. Well, she thinks she is.

Actually, she's gifted, she's beautiful and she's extraordinary, but she's lonely. No friends, no family except her mother. Thinking she's destined to spend the rest of her life hidden in her solitary existence, she thinks that no one knows the REAL Rhianne even exists.
Jamie Travis does. Even though they've never spoken. Not once. He wants her to know that he cares, he knows she exists and he wants her to start living.
Circumstances throw them together, and Jamie thinks he finally has his chance to show Rhianne that she really is someone special. But he could never have guessed the battle he faces against the doubts in her mind, put there by a mentally ill mother, an estranged father and a gift that she might never understand.
Does he really have the ability to fight her inner demons, and win? Or is he fighting a losing battle?

Add to your TO READ list on GOODREADS
Available on AMAZON US
And AMAZON UK

EXCERPT:

“Babe, please sit back down and listen to me, carefully okay?” He seemed to wait for an actual response so I just nodded back at him, telling him that I was listening to him. Then I sat back down. “The two things are not related. Yes, completely, definitely, indisputably, I owe you. That’s not up for debate, so don’t argue about it. But me wanting to spend time with you, wanting to get to know you better, it has nothing to do with that. Fair enough, if you don’t want to spend time with me, then I’m not going to push you on it, even though I wouldn’t understand. But don’t turn this around on me; I want to be your friend. I just want to really know you.”

I stared into his beautiful eyes for a few beats, trying to find any signs of dishonesty. None. He looked entirely truthful. Relief, like nothing I’d ever felt surged through me and I had the sudden urge to hug him. Literally just throw myself into his arms and squeeze, with everything that I had.

So I did.

I launched myself across the seat and threw myself into his arms. He stiffened at first but then I felt his body relax and his arms came around and pulled me closer. My throat was thick with unshed tears but I raised my head, looked him straight in the eye and whispered, “Thank you.”

“Nothing to thank me for babe. Everyone needs someone, sometimes.” 

ANOTHER EXCERPT:

This excerpt is too funny, just in case you thought the first made the book seem to dramatic--

He could have been singing nursery rhymes for all I knew. I wasn’t listening to word he said. I was too busy staring at the tent in the front of his pajama bottoms. Oh my gosh! Did I cause that?

I giggled. A lot. I smacked my hand over my mouth but tears were streaming from my eyes I was laughing that hard...

Hard! Haha! Get it?

Jamie frowned but he must have noticed what I was staring at because he blushed! Guys don’t blush, or not that I knew of. But he did. Then he tried to mask his reaction.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Name's Danielle Breeze, I’m only twenty-three but some days I feel forty!! I'm a single mum to two beautiful young children (makes finding the time to write challenging to say the least!!). Born and raised in Coventry, England – don’t think I’d ever really have the guts to leave here!! I’m a romantic at heart, love a happy ending and I’ve been known to make up my own endings in my head to other books if I didn’t agree with theirs haha!!

I listen to music CONSTANTLY!! Especially when I'm writing. I spend my days tidying up after my kids, making dinner, taking the kids to the park...nothing interesting!! But I like to spend time with my wonderful friends and family, going to concerts, on holidays, out for drinks :) all the usual things!!

I have always read books, magazines...the back of the shampoo bottle...ANYTHING I could, since I’ve been able to form words!! I wanted to write my own books even when I was just a little girl, scribbling little pieces down on scraps of paper, anything to get my ideas out!! I was as at university when I decided I was going to stop wanting to do it, and actually do it!! I have plenty of different works in the pipeline, so I hope you like my stuff .

You can find Danielle on 

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

TWITTER

INTRODUCING: MY MR. MANNY by Jennifer Garcia.

Summary:

This ultimate HEA is the perfect cure for a book hangover! So, if you're a bit emotionally exhausted, but still need something to read, this is the book for you.

Mia Balducci misses her childhood days and yearns for the big, Italian family that she left behind in small town Massachusetts. At the tender age of sixteen, Mia moves with her bachelor father to Los Angeles, but no matter how many years pass, it never becomes home to her. The years spent living with her father aren’t easy, especially since she can’t stop thinking about what she once had. Her enrollment in the University of Southern California promises to bring exciting changes to her life, but Mia winds up with big problems instead. When she runs into an old friend from her old hometown of Winthrop, she gets swept up in nostalgia, and she soon loses herself in a quickly-progressing romance. When the fantasy falls apart, she is left to raise her precious little girl, Lucia, on her own. The demands of Mia’s work schedule and Lucia’s needs increase, and their lives become increasingly hectic. It is soon clear to Mia that she needs help. Luckily, her life-saving cousin saves the day and brings the mother and daughter a male nanny – their new “manny.” After losing his high-pressure job on Wall Street, Dominic Roberts wants to follow his dreams to have a family. He’s already one fiancée down, and there are no likely prospects for another. In order to find the family he so desperately wants, he finds himself getting into the manny business. Since he is fully qualified to provide child care and is eager to leave New York City behind, his sister-in-law is able to land him a job in California working for his first client – the beautiful and intriguing Mia Balducci. Will Lucia like the new man in her mother's life? Will Mia? And will this new trio discover the happily ever after they all so desperately seek?

Author Bio:

Jennifer Garcia’s lifelong love for reading and writing was put aside for many years while she made her way in the world and nurtured her young family. Originally from Boston, she currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. Even though she is older, and life never seems to settle, she’s finding her way while attending college full-time in pursuit of a B.A. in English Literature. She also runs a business, and is still caring for her family. Believing she can do it all, with the help of her family, she worked on her first novel during the late hours of the night while balancing the rest of her life during the day. Her hard work paid off, as her first novel, My Mr. Manny, was released August 2013 and her first novella, In My Mother’s Footsteps, was released July 2013.

Find Jennifer on:

Facebook

Twitter

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Pinterest

About.me

Authorsdb

Independent Author Network

Jennifer Garcia is running a Goodreads Book Giveaway from March 2nd to March 8th, 2014.

Enter for a chance to win a signed book, My Mr. Manny 

Goodreads Book Giveaway

My Mr. Manny

by Jennifer Garcia

Giveaway ends March 08, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

For more information please go to Jennifer's Blog.

KELLY'S REVIEW:
I hate to say I had very low expectations for this book. It seemed like this type of thing has been done so many times before. I was pleasantly surprised. The author has a charming writing style that captured my interest and I ended up loving the story and the characters. It is cute, fun and lighthearted. I highly recommend this as a dessert read: sweet and goes great with a glass (or two) of wine.
this review is the opinion of Kelly and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the other administrators of Ravenz Reviews.

COMING SOON: REAP by Casey Bond

REAP by Casey Bond
The remnants of the United States of America have been divided. From five enormous, technologically-advanced cities, the Greaters rule over the Lessers. In the Lesser village of Orchard, things are not as perfect as Abby Kelley thinks they are. When the apple harvest draws near and the Greater’s  engineered fruits become too much for one village to handle alone, reinforcements from neighboring villages are called upon.

Having to choose between her best friend, whom she has no romantic feelings for, and mysterious newcomer Crew, Abby finds herself in the middle of a harvest that she had no intention of becoming a part of.  She becomes involved in a situation that threatens the strict rule of the Greaters, and just might give the Lessers hope for a better tomorrow.  But, can she help the Lessers without losing Crew? And if she chooses Crew, will she lose her best friend?
Links:
GOODREADS
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
WEBSITE
PINTEREST
Other Books by Casey L. Bond: Winter Shadows, Devil Creek and Pariah (Releasing 5.13.14)

REVIEW: THE FAWN by Susan Griscom

Released Date: March 1, 2014

The Fawn

A New Adult Novel 

Sexual content and mature subject matter, including domestic violence and abuse.

After a not-so-wonderful young adulthood—shuffled from one foster home to another—Lena Benton had hoped marriage would be her ticket to happiness. Wedded a year after high school graduation, Lena was certain she’d found her knight. But when Troy Harington’s true colors surface shortly after their glorious day of elopement, things aren’t quite as rosy as Lena had envisioned. When an unforeseen event turns ugly, all she can do is ... run!

But does she run far enough?

Jackson Beaumont prides himself on being a nature-loving, guitar-strumming carefree sort of guy, known for his eagerness to help injured animals find their way back into the wild. When Lena Benton walks into his bar, he’s once again swept off his feet with concern and desire to help the wounded. Will he risk having his heart torn apart again when the memory of the fawn he rescued as a child resurfaces?

Teaser Excerpt 

Lena

No more tears, I ordered myself. It’s over. Was he dead? I hoped he was dead. I had to have killed him. My emotions—convoluted with anger and fear—dominated my judgment, giving me courage to go on. I’d never considered myself weak, to allow a man to have such complete and utter control over me—to beat me whenever he had the whim. How the hell had that happened?

Well, that person was gone and I didn’t want to be weak anymore. I lifted my glasses, studied my eye again, and thought of my mother—she’d been weak, I remembered. The vision of my stepfather beating my mother to death invaded my mind. I was nine at the time, and sat cowering in the corner, praying he wouldn’t come at me when he’d finished with her. I’d watched him slap my mom around before, and she’d always been able to recover. But that last time, he’d gone too far. I watched as my mother fell to her knees, clutching her stomach as his foot came off the ground and struck her in the face. She’d fallen backwards and her head hit the edge of the red, brick hearth of the fireplace. I covered my eyes and screamed as blood spewed out all over the bricks and the worn out, dingy cream carpet. A neighbor heard the screaming and called the police. They’d gotten there in time for me, but too late for my mother. 

I’d been on my own since I was eighteen after enduring one foster home after another, never really fitting in. But at the tender age of fourteen I’d found my niche. An old discarded second-hand guitar I’d discovered in someone’s trash became my savior. As long as I had a guitar in my hands nothing else mattered. After a few months of living with some friends and several temporary gigs here and there, I’d been lucky enough to find a spot with a smalltime band singing and playing lead-guitar. They called themselves The Magic Crew. They were good too, on their way to stardom, and I was right there with them until Troy Harington showed up and swept me off my feet. 

It seemed as if it had all been a dream as I thought about how he’d manipulated me into believing he loved me. Handsome? Oh yeah, he was handsome.

Purchase on Amazon:
Purchase Print
Purchase on Barnes and Noble

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
The writing of The Fawn has been a bittersweet journey. This is a story very close to my heart and a story suffered by many women around the world. It's not a new story. It is one that has been told time and time again by many different people in many different ways and with many different experiences, but with the same old problem. Hopefully through my love of my characters and emotions I've made it an interesting one. I wrote the first twenty pages of this story back in 2008 shortly after finishing the first draft of Whisper Cape. Although the story of The Fawn is completely fiction, it does represent a time in my life when I was insecure and my self-esteem was at an all time low, sometime back in my late thirties early forties. Things changed, circumstances changed, and I was able to find my own self worth. One thing similar to The Fawn is that I didn't do it alone.  The people in my life had a huge influence on me, friends mostly. And my knight who helped me realize my own self-worth time and time again. Just as Jackson is there for Lena, my knight was there for me. That is where the similarities end. But the emotion is strong in this story and I hope I've been able to portray it well enough to be appreciated. Lena's journey is very different from my own, yet, holds so much weight in my heart.   

Author Links: Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page

Kerry's review of The Fawn by Susan Griscom
I give this book 4 stars!

I would actually give this book 4.5 stars if I could. I read it all in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. The characters are so real and their emotions are so intense that I felt as if I were there with them. Lena’s pain and suffering made me want to do whatever it would take to help her. Jackson’s caring and drive to help the wounded reminds me so much of myself that I almost felt as if his character was modeled after me. The only thing that knocked it down half a star is that I feel the characters were just a little young to have had all the experiences that they had, but not by much. Susan’s very vivid attention to detail and description was just enough to really make you feel it, but not too much that it took away from the storyline in any way. I would very highly recommend this book to everyone, but make sure you have a tissue handy when you read it. I will be purchasing a paperback of this the first chance I get. It is definitely more than worth reading and rereading!

~~Read and Reviewed by Kerry Erickson
All opinions are the views of Kerry and may not necessarily reflect the views of others at Ravenz Reviews.

INTRODUCING: DISTRACTION AND DESIRE by Kizzie Darker

She was his distraction, he her desire.
Joanna Woods thought her broken heart would never heal again when Luke ripper her world apart. Upon deciding to take a much needed vacation to Paris, the City of Love, would a chance meeting change her life forever?
Nathan Jones moonlights as a successful businessman but unbeknown to Joanna, he secretly works as a C.I.A. agent traveling the world, tackling crime. He has already lost one love of his life; will he risk it all when he meets Joanna?
Joanna and Nathan have chemistry but will it be enough to make their relationship work?
Will Joanna be able to handle the truth when she finds out who Nathan really is or will it end in further heartache?

Get your copy at AMAZON

Stalk Kizzie Darker on GOODREADS

And on FACEBOOK

Introducing ROYAL PAIN by Lara Henley

Royal Pain by Lara Henley

Lara Williams comes from a tight knit family. She has always succeeded at everything she has chosen to do in her life. She had a great job as a high-powered executive in a Natural Energy Conservation Company. The one thing she hasn’t had the best of luck in is relationships. Lara had all but closed herself off to the possibility of love thanks to past mistakes, until she meets Gavin. The first time the gorgeous Gavin Clarke catches her eye, she knew that everything was about to change, but will that change be for the better?

Gavin Clarke is used to getting whatever and whoever he wants. When he sees the beautiful Lara Williams across the room of a pub, he knows she is what he wants next, but Gavin carries a secret close to his heart. One that he is reluctant to share. Will his secret destroy his chances with Lara? Will he get the chance to prove that he is the perfect match for her or will he lose his chance with Lara forever?
You can find Royal Pain here:
Amazon 
Amazon UK 
Goodreads 

Excerpt:
When I entered the bar’s main bar area, I stopped dead in my tracks. Suddenly, all the blood rushed to my head and my palms began to sweat profusely. Sitting in a chair directly in front of me was the handsomest man I had ever seen or, as they would say in Greek, an “Adonis”. His muscles rippled out from under his sleeves and his smile could probably light the sky when dark. OMG, and those amber eyes…I felt hypnotized by them. His dark caramel colored skin and tight curls made my mouth water. I knew I looked like a fool standing there staring at him, but I couldn’t break my eyes away. Once he looked over at me, I broke my gaze. I couldn’t let him catch me gawking at him. Where had I seen this man before?

All of a sudden, I felt a push from behind and I fell forward. Feeling and probably looking flushed, I looked up to see the Adonis had his hand out in front of me. I was afraid to take it because I knew my own hand was sweaty, but I gave in and took his hand anyway. Time froze as my hand entered into his. There was a questionable look on his face; he was glaring at the man who had pushed me forward. He yelled, “Hey arse, watch where you’re going!” The man turned and looked at him as if he was going to come back over to us. Instead, he just cursed under his breath and continued walking. “Are you okay, Miss?” he asked in his Aurian accent. What was it with guys and accents? Most American women fall over themselves for a man with an exotic accent. I was dazed and confused, trying to process everything that had just happened. “Miss, Miss,” he grumbled.

Fading back into the moment, I finally stated, “Yes, I’m fine. Thanks”. I thought I was going to drop dead from embarrassment. He looked at me with those beautiful amber eyes and I thought, “Oh God, you are gorgeous.” I peered down at my dress to make sure I was truly alright and noticed a red spot on my dress.

Again, my Adonis spoke, “I think you’re bleeding”.

I removed my hand from his hand and excused myself. I headed as fast as my legs could carry me, without running, to the restroom to get myself cleaned up. Flustered, I pulled my dress up and noticed a long scratch on my lower thigh. I immediately dabbed water onto a paper towel and cleaned the wounded area. “Ahh, that’s better,” I mumbled under my breath. I returned to the bar area to thank the man once again but he was nowhere in sight. I shrugged and sat at a table near the back. Guess I won’t be seeing him again. I strolled over to the bar to order Roast and Potatoes, my favorite meal here. Finally, my dinner arrived. As I cut into the first slice of roast, I heard the voice again, “Are you sure you’re okay?” he whispered into my ear. His husky voice vibrating sent shivers down my spine. Where in Heaven’s name did he come from? I thought for sure he was gone from the bar a moment ago. I turned around to see him grabbing the back of my chair. We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity.

“Yes, I’m sure,” I answered truthfully. “Thank you again for your help.”

“Sure thing,” he said, “I wouldn’t want a beautiful woman like you getting hurt.” I blushed at his compliment and turned my head back to my plate. When I lifted my eyes to respond, he was gone once again. Was I imagining this person? Where had he gone? This was the second time that this happened to me.


From The Author:
I originally from Oklahoma, but have lived several places in my life. I began writing in 2009 when I had a dream about a little girl traveling with her grandmother. In essence that is how Jessie Discovers Christmas was born. I then ventured out into YA and adult romance. I hold a bachelors degree in Fashion Marking and a Masters in Administrative Leadership. I love all things creative and hope to a full-time writing career.
You can find Lara Henley here:
Website 
Facebook 
Twitter 

REVIEW: HEART ATTACKS: A Valentine's Day Anthology

HEART ATTACKS: 

A VALENTINE'S DAY ANTHOLOGY

It's Valentine's Day - a day to be pampered, loved, and most of all...Frightened To Death! Spend your day of love with:

C. M. Wright,
Tim Miller, 

Dovey Mayali Cralk, 

J.J. DiBenedetto,
Kelly J. Erickson, 

A.R. Von, 

Sandra Love & 

A. P. Bartels.

They promise to bring you closer to your loved one - as you cling to them for protection! They promise to bring you warmth - as you hide yourself under the covers from what's lurking in the darkness. They also promise to leave you panting, your body trembling, and your heart racing - from the horror between these sheets.

Available in Paperback and for Kindle at AMAZON

Kelly's Review:
This is definitely not a Hallmark card type of Valentine's Day book. This collection of horror tales ranges from the creepy to the outright terrifying. The twisted minds of several authors, collected by CM Wright, have collaborated to bring you stories that will thrill you, give you shivers, and probably a few nightmares. And at the same time, they will leave you wanting more.
Each story is unique with fascinating results as a whole. I look forward to reading more by each of these talented authors.
This review is the opinion of Kelly and is not necessarily the opinion of other administrators at Ravenz Reviews. 

INTRODUCING A Pirate Princess

A Pirate Princess 
by Brittany Jo James

The only thing a pirate desires more than his ship is his treasure and the crew of The Beloved Loss holds the most valuable jewel on the sea… their pirate princess.

Enchanting and spirited Corisanda St. Aubin has been a prisoner aboard The Beloved Loss since she was born. Cori’s dream of escape has been crushed countless times by her father, the he
artless Captain Marin St. Aubin. She’s accustomed to her father’s hatred but nothing can prepare Cori for the malicious quartermaster, Falco de Vries, who schemes to marry her.

The Count of Calais and sea trader, Burke Belcourt, has been trapped by a malevolent woman’s demand for marriage. In an attempt to prolong his wedding, Burke agrees to bring the pirate captain of The Beloved Loss to justice for the King of France. He soon discovers that Marin is no easy target… but not until he finds himself locked aboard with the beautiful pirate princess.

Cori and Burke are prepared to defeat all their enemies together in order to escape but the only thing they cannot seem to overcome is their unwanted yet undeniable feelings for each other.

You can pick up A Pirate Princess here:

AMAZON USA 

AMAZON UK 

MEET THE AUTHOR 

Brittany Jo James was born and raised in the small town of Idabel, Oklahoma. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart, Conlee, who is now a soldier in the United States Air Force. They share two rowdy sons, Jagger and Jett. Her life revolves around living for God, caring for her family and writing, writing, writing. The James family is currently residing near Anchorage, Alaska until the USAF decides otherwise.

You can find the author on FACEBOOK 

INTRODUCING: RESTROOM by Paul Levas

RESTROOM
A short horror story by Paul Levas
Approx. 11 pages
Published by Wolf Paw Publications

Kyle's life has been hell for years. He still wets his bed, wets himself just walking along the road, and everyone just laughs at him about it. When his mother takes him and brother Randy to the carnival, he hopes that nature won't call to him there... but it does. And when Randy rushes him over to the Porta Potty, there's something inside which does more than just scare the piss out of him.

Available on AMAZON

MEET THE AUTHOR
Paul Levas was born and grew up in Antioch, IL, but has lived in Phoenix, AZ, for the past twenty years. He is a writer specializing in the horror genre, and cites Stephen King as his major influences. He has six short stories published: The Shed, The Hungry Woods, The Blog of Kevin Hickey, Tracy's Day Out (Novelette), Sweet Temptation, and Shadows. He is also included in the anthology titled Grave Robbers, and Pavor Nocturnus Magazine | Horror Quarterly, which is publishing Shadows in their vol 2 Magazine out January 2014. He is currently at work on a novel and A few short stories.

You can find the author here:
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GoodReads 

REVIEW: Backward Compatible

Kelly's Review of Backward Compatible
By Sarah Daltry and Pete Clark

HILARIOUS!!!  As a self-proclaimed Geek, I was laughing throughout the book at the very accurate portrayal of the Gamer Geek world. Even if you have no idea what a MMORPG IS or what the title means, you will adore the attempts of the socially inept geeks as they try to have a relationship while they race to beat the secret Big Boss in a new video game. Their friends and co-gamers interrupt any attempts to be alone, and the game takes up every waking moment. Which is a lot as they sleep only in quick naps, surviving on Red Bull, Cheet-Os and Snickers with the occasional sandwich. Any Gamer will attest that those are the four basic food groups.

Backward Compatible perfectly melds the banter and social cluelessness found in The Big Bang Theory with the witty one-liners and tough-girl-in-a-boys’-world that Joss Whedon is famous for.

This is a clean, fun book suitable for geeks of all ages; I even read some to my mother and my daughter. Those who know me, know I very rarely give a book 5 stars. A great book rates four and only the most exceptional will receive 5 stars from me. This is one of those rare instances.
You can find Backward Compatible here:
BARNES AND NOBLE
AMAZON

DESCRIPTION:

WARNING: There is no sex in this book. Your Kindle or other device will remain at a pleasant room temperature. At no point will your panties drop. Your significant other will be allowed to snore in peace as you read.

Not too long ago, in a town that, depending on your current location, is either not super far or actually quite close...

It is a time of chaotic hormones.

Two nerdy gents home for winter break have discovered a female gamer at a midnight release.

During the break, the gamer trio manages to reveal the game's secret boss, a hidden enemy with enough power to destroy anything in its path.

Pursued by other gamers who want to be the first to beat this boss, George and Katie race to level up, and, in so doing, restore decency and sexual activity to their personal galaxy...

This review is the opinion of Kelly and may not necessarily represent the views of Ravenz Reviews.

NEW COVER: Allusive Aftershock

Announcing the new cover for Allusive Aftershock by Susan Griscom

Allusive Aftershock is the thrilling adventure story of three teens trying to survive after a series of massive earthquakes destroys much of the infrastructure of California. As they try to search for survivors, feelings and relationships are challenged. This is a sweet and exciting but clean book for teens to YA, although as an adult, I loved it, too. ~~ Kelly

What happens when a major earthquake changes life as you know it and the boy you thought you hated ends up saving you? Three times!

Courtland Reese is the guy everyone hates and makes fun of because … well, he is weird. He communicates with animals. Strange or interesting, seventeen-year-old Adela Castielle can’t quite figure out, but when he saves her from being trampled by her own horse, she begins to understand him a little better and wants to learn more about him.

But, Max--her best friend/dream guy/someday-to-be-her-husband-only-he-doesn’t-know-it-yet--hates Courtland with a passion. Adela wants to know why, except neither boy is iealking.

When Max leaves her stranded in his parents' wine cave with his worst enemy, Courtland, after what the experts are calling a “megathrust” earthquake, Adela starts to question her loyalty to Max as steamy kisses in a dark damp cellar only fuel her emotions with more conflict.

But does she really have time to worry about that when fire, destruction, and mayhem surround her?

Are you ready for the new cover?

HERE IT IS! 

Available on Kindle, Nook and Paperback.
Amazon USA, UK, and Canada
B&N 
Also available as an Audiobook from audible.com, Amazon.com, and iTunes.

REVIEW: A New Life: Life of Recovery

Kelly's Review of A New Life: Life of Recovery By Samantha Jacoby

This is a coarse, gritty look at the making of a serial killer. The young girl, she doesn’t even know her age, tells her story in flashbacks and testimony. This is definitely NOT a romance book, as some have suggested. There is absolutely noting romantic about the physical, sexual and psychological abuse that was systematically used to train her to be the ultimate cold-blooded killer. No spoilers, that is revealed very early in the book. Be forewarned, this book may not be suitable for someone who has endured traumatic abuse.
This is more of a background piece than a novel. The flashbacks take place over a period of at least ten years while the current events takes just a few days and are not really resolved. The main character, Tori, doesn’t seem to even try to overcome her conditioning. Although the horrific abuse she suffered is simply stated mater-of-factually, I quickly realized that emotionally cutting herself off completely was her coping mechanism. I would like to see how she deals with it and if she realizes that the (Nope! No spoilers!) in the next book: Life of Doubt.
I was torn between giving this book 3 or 4 stars simply because it is only a background piece. However, the writing is very well done and the characters were compelling. So considering that it is an introduction to a series, I give this book 4 stars.

You can find this book on AMAZON

Description:
The Dragons, a ruthless gang, raised her to be strong. They taught her how to kill. They got more than they bargained for... Now she is free, or so she thinks, but can she truly escape her brutal past, finding true love amidst the sex and intrigue? Tori Farrell is on a mission to find her true identity, to break the ties to a dark underworld for good, and to save the people she cares about most - the family she has never known. She wants a new life, but first she must lay to rest the demons of her past.

This is the first in a series that chronicles the life of a young woman who is raised by a group of men who work as freelance mercenaries in the dark world of drug trafficking and murder for hire. They acquired the young woman at a very young age, as she has no memory of life before them. The book opens as she has broken free and moves through a series of current events and flashbacks that explain the beginning of her story. It is very dark with an unfinished feel, because in the end, the past is not the real story - the real story is what happens from here.

Excerpt
Quietly, he explained to her that he was going to arrange for another group to kill the Dragons and send her to live with someone who would take care of her. Not understanding, she asked why she would have to go with someone else. If the Dragons were dead, why couldn't she just go with him? He refused to explain, and simply said, "You are going to have a different life, baby girl. A life I cannot give you. You must be strong and willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen. Promise me you will do this...."

The Author Says:
"This is the first book in the series, A New Life, and lays out all of the background. Book 2 - Life of Doubt continues Tori's story as she begins to learn about what living a normal life means. It is also full of intrigue, sex, love and romance you will not want to miss - coming in December 2013.

"I thoroughly enjoyed writing these books, as they are full of hot sex, crazy love, and passionate romance as well as action and suspense. They are not a contemporary romance, as there is a great deal of mystery and excitement involved with Tori's new life rebuilt from the ashes of her past, and working her way through her stages of recovery are vital to the story. Life of Recovery is not a self-help book, nor is it any type of Christian romance or fiction - far from it.

"I love adventure and reading about strong women who are capable of taking care of themselves and those around them, and although the book opens when the chips are down, Tori is fast to get back on her feet and show her inner strength and ability to grow, learn and move forward. Her search for inner truth and love are inspirational and I hope that you will enjoy reading about her as much as I enjoyed creating her."

This review was written by Kelly. It is her own opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of others at Ravenz Reviews.

Introducing ALIVE by Megan D. Martin

Title: Alive

Author: Megan D. Martin

Genre: New Adult Post-Apocalyptic Interracial Romance

Publication Date: November 15, 2013

Tour Host: Dreams Come True Promotions

Flesh-eating zombies, dirty sex, and a shattered past…

What’s more dangerous—the man who broke her heart or those trying to eat it?

Fighting to survive, Eve finds herself alone in the world after the Crave—the only parallel of her former life. On the hunt for her sister, she runs into Gage—the first and only boy to have her heart and break it. It’s been four years and he isn’t a boy anymore, nor is he the same person he used to be. Against her better judgment, Eve agrees to stay with him when he divulges information on a safe haven near the small town they grew up in—but that doesn’t mean she has to like it…

Returning home elicits a myriad of emotions that both Eve and Gage thought they had buried. The past and present collide and they are forced to the face bitter deceits that ruined them in the before and threaten to destroy them now…

Megan D. Martin is a multi-published author, mother, student and editor. In her spare time she enjoys decorating her house with strange things that do not match, playing her old school Nintendo Entertainment System, and buying fish for her many fish tanks.

Facebook - Twitter - Author’s Website - Author’s GoodReads - Amazon Author Page

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FEATURING Justin Osborne

Day 12 of our 12 Days of Christmas Authors features the fascinating Justin Osborne. He has amazing short stories that will challenge everything you thought you knew and his Epic fantasy series.

Bitter Fruit: A Taste Of The Antholocaust

A collection of 5 previously released Horror shorts.
Post 2 - A lone security guard does battle with a horror from the depths of the earth.
Muffinz - A man discovers that adopting a strange cat changes his life forever.
You Can't Kill Rock And Roll - Sometimes an apartment comes with 'extras', like the spirit of a murdered guitar prodigy.
Prepped - The Zombie Apocalypse as experienced by a 'Doomsday Prepper'.
Prepped 2: Field Trip - Ol' Crazy Dave returns and finds himself saddled with 'extra baggage'.
Available on AMAZON

Prepped
Dave Moore has been awaiting the 'Zombie Apocalypse' for most of his life, now that it appears to have begin, it's time for him to get 'prepped'...
Available on AMAZON

Prepped 2: Field Trip
Sometimes you can't keep a good 'Prepper' down.
'Ol' Crazy Dave is back and finds himself responsible for the last thing he ever expected. Helpless survivors of the initial wave of the Zombie Apocalypse.
Available on AMAZON

EPIC: Legacy
Almost a billion people have simply vanished in the last six months. Deacon’s mother sends him to stay with his eccentric uncle Evon in an effort to keep him safe. Upon his arrival, he learns that his uncle is more than a little on the strange side, he was once a legendary hero. At first Deacon is reluctant to believe his uncle’s stories, but after meeting his brownie butler, dwarf wife, not to mention the dragon head mounted as a trophy in the foyer, Deacon is starting to come around. After drinking too much ‘Meadale’ the night before, Deacon accidently falls through a Faerie Mound in his uncle’s backyard, where he ends up trapped in Avalon, a doomed world where all our myths and legends are real, and the only way back home is the badly wounded (and pissed off) faerie that brought him there. Deacon’s quest to get help for the injured faerie lands him in the village of Fen Glennan, where his uncle is a hero and he is an untrusted outsider from the horrific world of Abaddon (Earth). During his stay, He finds a few friends, a few enemies, and perhaps even love. Upon his return to Earth, Deacon is forced to carry on his uncles ‘legacy’ and fulfill his dying wish, save the people of Fen Glennan and as many in Avalon as he can before it’s destruction
Available on AMAZON 

EPIC: Exodus
Deacon McTaggart is back!
Thanks to the efforts of Deacon, the nephew of Avalon’s greatest hero, Evon McTaggart, the Avalonian village of Fen Glennan has been saved and relocated to Earth to escape from Avalon’s eminent destruction.
But with the rest of Avalon still in grave peril, Deacon must return there in an effort to evacuate the entire world. Armed with the Vamprace, a parasitic andsentient crystalline gauntlet, Deacon and his allies, the half giantess Inanna, Daniel Goodman the ‘Shaper’, Dio the Hellhound, and the tempestuous faerie Aika, along with a new and unexpected companion embark on a newquest to free the Faeries, the only ones able to open the Sidhes, the gateways between the two worlds.
Not helping the situation is the Vamprace itself, revealing its own agenda of power and dominance. At first Deacon resists its blood thirst, but is soon coerced into believing that without its power, his life, his friends lives, and all of Avalon, will be lost.
And to make matters even worse, the Vamprace isn’t the only entity vying to control and corrupt Deacon…
Available on AMAZON

Justin Osborne says:
My first novel, EPIC: Legacy is the first of four in the EPIC series, the second part EPIC: Exodus is available now! My horror themed short story collection, Antholocaust is coming soon...
Find me on AMAZON
My Web Page
My Facebook Fanpage

FEATURING Mary Ann Abraham

Day 11 of 12 Days of Christmas Authors features Mary Ann Abraham. She is the author of the fascinating Elven Chronicles. With Elf stories for Children to Adults, she is certain to be popular with entire families.  Be sure to check out her holiday story, Celebration of Light. And watch for a new release, Return of the Legend, coming in February 2014.

Celebration of Light (Elven Chronicles)

Haylo has grown up in the human world where each year they celebrate the Christmas season. There is; however, no Christmas in the Elven world. Instead, the Elven females have decided to take the idea and change it into something for their own people. They are not about to tell their Life Mates and sweet hearts though. Keeping their plans secret is proving to be too much fun. The Elven male population can tell something is being plotted. Gabriel is sure of it, Eden is keeping secrets and it doesn’t take them long to figure out what is going on. Sevil confirms it. Watch how the season comes together, the planning, the games, the craftiness practiced, all in the name of bringing the Elves together for the Celebration of Light.
Available on AMAZON
and BARNES AND NOBLE

Gabriel: Book One of the Elven Chronicles

He is a living legend, a master swordsman, and a hero of the Elven Empire. He had led his Warriors home in victory from a war that had lasted centuries. He is the High Lord General Gabriel Eagle Claw, Supreme Commander of the Combined Elven Forces, and his word is law. She is a force of nature, an Elven maiden trained in the art of survival by a Fae Warrior and she is just coming into the knowledge of her powerful talent. All of her life she has been able to converse with the forests about her. The leaves rustled their news into her ears, and the life force of the trees transmit their needs to her, for she is an Elf with a gift lost in legend. She is Eden, Guardian of the light of the Elven forests. TRATCHAR. The trees shout her title. Her people whisper it in awe.

“Catch,” the warning comes just in time to alert General Gabriel to attention and warrior that he is he is quick to react just as an arrow knocks a young Elven maiden from a tree branch that he has chosen to stand under, and he catches her as she falls. When blue eyes meet silver each know they have met their life mate, but such things as not as quickly accepted as they are recognized. He would have order in his ranks, she must be free to mark her own trail, he would bind her, tie her, control her. She would test his patience and will to the limit, and challenge his rights to own what she would not give freely.
Available for Kindle or in Paperback on AMAZON
and BARNES AND NOBLE

 Marious' Story: Book Two of the Elven Chronicles
Once more we travel through the lands of the Elven lands…

Marious is an Elven diplomat and a favorite of the Light Elven King Daroth. It was he who had been chosen to accompany his uncle Gabriel to gather their people to bring back home and now he has once more been chosen to escort his uncle and new life mate Eden to rescue the Sentinels in the Dark Elven King’s lands. Not all has gone well though and he is now being dispatched by the King to travel into the Wild Lands to bring back an Elven maiden that has been seen in visions helping the now very pregnant Eden in her task.

Tamarak has lived in the wild lands almost her entire life, she has been left alone to face the dangers of land and inhabitants and she has done well just to be able to survive. Where she goes her birds follows, her snow owl Elsa and those others that she calls to her aid in times of danger. She is wily and the prettiest little Elf Marious has ever seen outside of his homeland. She is also his soul mate, but she will need time, time to get used to the changes being brought out of her solitary life in the wild lands and in the midst of the Elven Empire. Time to accept that she no longer has to be alone, and he finds she is willing and eager to learn, though not with just anyone.
Available for Kindle or in Paperback on AMAZON
and BARNES AND NOBLE

King's Champion (Elven Chronicles)

For over four thousand years he has been an Elf to command respect from warriors and Kings alike. He is Torrent, Kings Champion and one of the few to go fearlessly into the dangers beyond the portal to form a bond with the Elven Empire there. He is held in great honor there, friend to the King and his sons. He has been sent by the Light King to relay an offer of friendship and help to bring the wars there to an end, for the King has seen a day when the boundary between their worlds will fail.

Serenity has shrouded her life in mystery. None save the King knows what she is or what she has done, for she walks a path she would rather none know of. She is an Elf of great beauty and great talent and with one look of her silver blue eyes she has brought one of the greatest Elves her people have known to his knees, for they are Life Mates, and though he would charge into her life and take it over, she would only have him once he has come to learn her ways. Theirs is a battle of wills and learning to bend with the raging winds of fate.
Available for Kindle or in Paperback on AMAZON
and BARNES AND NOBLE

Life Mate to a King: Elven Chronicles Book 4

Garoldth is a warrior King or great stature, and he can have no vulnerability. With that in mind he has lived his life. Marriage is for convenience, to make sure he will have sons to follow in his footsteps. He has twelve sons, and all are warriors of great power. He rules his family as he does his people in this he must be firm. He loves his people, loves his family, but still he is alone. All of his life he has known nothing but war and strife. He is King Garoldth and he rules the lands beyond the portal.

Five hundred years before the wars across the boundary are brought to an end Tári meets an Elf who she recognized is her Life Mate. She knows their time is not now, for she has the sight. The call of the bond that declares them one, however, would not be denied. Despite knowing their love was not meant to be in this time they act on it, after, she disappears into the shielding rock caves of her land, refusing to speak the words they must to complete their bond. One hundred years later they meet again, and again the call of their souls to unite is too powerful to resist and they spend their time together in love. This time he can offer his love nothing, caught in an alliance not of his choosing. He is joined with another, one he does not love or want. To offer to take the one he does love to his world would be a great dishonor to her, as well as dangerous.

As Garoldth stands beside his piers on the day peace is brought to his land he sees a movement in the forest beyond. Is it his love, his Life Mate? Has she has come to him again? He is sure of it. He is quick to give chase, but she has disappeared once more. This time he will not be denied. He will seek her to the end of the world. This time he is free to offer her everything, body, soul, heart, mind. They can be one. She will be his Queen, and he will have no other. He will never be forced to live without his love again. This time he can offer her a safe haven, his home and his arms
Available for Kindle or in Paperback on AMAZON
and BARNES AND NOBLE

The Elven Chronicles Short Stories for Children
The Elven Chronicles for Children is a compilation of the following short stories for children of all ages, especially the lighthearted seasonal ones.

ANGEL’S HAYLO - Haylo is an Elf, but she has been raised as a human. She has never known a different life, though she knows there are Elves and that she is one of them. The family that has surrounded her with their love and care is not of her blood. She never questioned her origins. To her those about her were her family. Her mother. Her father. Her grandmother. Angel is Amy’s daughter and is unable to have a child. To Amy it is the worse thing that can happen to a woman, especially to one who lives only to hold a child in her arms as her own. Elizara is an Elven woman who has borne twins, though she is too ill to realize this. Thinking the Elf too ill to survive Amy takes one of the babies to give to her daughter to have as her own. This is their story..
LOCIEL’S ELITE GUARDIAN - Lociel has been sent, along with his brother and his Fae friend to the Dark Elven Empire with messages for King Liessen and his sister Eden. He didn’t expect to meet his Life Mate, not at his age. Most Elven males don’t get to meet their Life or Heart Mate until they are several hundreds of years older. He couldn’t be happier. Rayjan watches their Fae friend being accepted by his Life Mate the moment he approaches her, could he be so lucky with his? Arazel, Arienne and Raina are three of the Dark King Liessen’s Elite Guards, the pride of his realm. Beautiful and deadly they are no man’s possession, until they meet their Life Mates. One will accept hers on sight. Another will entice hers to her side. The third will have to fight to escape the boundaries she has lived all her life with, to be able to take her place by her Life Mate’s side.
CELEBRATION OF LIGHT - Haylo has grown up in the human world where each year they celebrate the Christmas season. There is; however, no Christmas in the Elven world. Instead, the Elven females have decided to take the idea and change it into something for their own people. They are not about to tell their Life Mates and sweet hearts though. Keeping their plans secret is proving to be too much fun. The Elven male population can tell something is being plotted. Gabriel is sure of it, Eden is keeping secrets and it doesn’t take them long to figure out what is going on. Sevil confirms it. Watch how the season comes together, the planning, the games, the craftiness practiced, all in the name of bringing the Elves together for the Celebration of Light.
EMBRACING THE LIGHT - The toddlers are spending the day at Gabriel and Eden’s and as they gather they find a new speed… supersonic… in the way of toddlers the world over there is nothing slower, and they are ready to challenge the world. Marious’ sons are there, proving the adage, “like father like sons” and Gabriel’s sons, are another chip off the block. The girls are not going to allow the boys to show them up, and are quite capable of rising to the challenge. It doesn’t take long for the competition to begin. Of course there are those who don’t feel the need to compete, they are just there for the fun. Some may even get a glimpse into their future, and others are already showing signs of being haunted by powers they will never be able to live with easily. As the day progresses Daroth begins to welcome his guests to the festival as everyone is interested to see what this new tradition is all about. They have heard a lot about this festival of Daroth’s. Will it live up to their expectations? Would the people in their Kingdoms enjoy it too? All these questions and more are answered in this wild romp as Marious and Branith lead their band of merrymakers into the crowd for a little fun, and with those two in the lead you can’t help but ask, is anyone safe? The toddlers are definitely ready to join the celebration as they follow their leader into the spirit of the season as they all prepare to ‘Embrace The Light’
Available in Paperback on AMAZON
and BARNES AND NOBLE

M.A. Abraham lives in a rural area of Canada, where she creates her Elven stories and is ruled by her sidekick, Snoop. She is attempting to control the Elves around her, but they are a bunch of party animals. Diabolically working to retake control of her life she is busy trying to marry the little troublemakers off and settle them in happy family units.
You can find these and more of her books on her AMAZON page