Below The Line by Brian Tobin

Article first published as Book Review: Below The Line by Brian Tobin on Blogcritics.

Living a double life can be dangerous, and in Hollywood where everyone knows your business, even the smallest of mistakes become deadly.

In Below The Line by Brian Tobin, we follow along with a group of people, interconnected with just the smallest of lines. Martin Oals had been lucky early in his life in Hollywood; he had some great small parts in some of the most popular shows. While not a huge celebrity, recognition still came from those looking for stars in every face they saw. In between the parts he tended bar, and his hope was to become a producer.

Life does not always work out as we plan. Martin’s grandiose plans required money, so drugs also came into play. He was careful though, his vehicle was the only place he ever carried them, and only in the trunk. He never dealt from his home and he stayed beneath the radar. Always looking for the elusive buck, he thought he could grow his own stash, and when an opening came with a producer offering money to help set him up, for a part of the money, he jumped in full bore. Using a friend, Squeak, one of his best friends from high school, he felt as though he was finally in the big leagues.

Enter Henry Voght, a police officer with a bent for dirty law. While covering a known drug dealer, Martin comes into his field of view. Henry is intrigued and begins to obsess about how he can get a piece of the pie in this ever-growing connection of people. As each of the characters begin a strange dance of who gets the money, an unhealthy thought takes over. Murder and mayhem follow and suddenly it is every man for himself. Will the police find the killer, or has the cover-up done the job? Who will end up with the drugs and money? In a race to be first, will further mayhem follow?

Tobin has written an interesting whodunit, and set it in Hollywood with the cast of characters you can understand. The thought process is something of a fantasy and yet something you would expect coming from a group of egotistical people, a bit jaded by their notoriety. Holding on to the brass ring in a city where stars rise and fall on a whim, digging below the line for a new and interesting source of money only makes sense. His characters are well written and just a bit diverse.

He does a good job of bringing the drug scene to life, although it is seems a bit soft for what you would actually expect. But then again this involves the Hollywood influence. His characters react in different ways to the unexpected, revealing a dark and sad look at how life goes on.

I would recommend this book to the mystery buff. The story is interesting and the interplay between the characters keeps the pace at an even speed. This would be a great book for a reading group, and would engender some good dialogue

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

What Hapened At Heath-Cliff Hall by C.M. Groover

Article first published as Book Review: What Happened At Heath-Cliff Hall by C. M. Groover on Blogcritics.

Occasionally in life, an experience will come along that will shake the foundations of your belief system. Many find themselves immeasurably changed by such an experience.

In What Happened At Heath-Cliff Hall by C.M. Groover, we are given a glimpse into a unique and deadly life-one in which the answers seem strange and unbelievable. Dr. Jargon and his assistant are hired to do a job. The doctor has been instrumental in finding solution to several cases, and he always enjoys having his trusty assistant by his side. Being hired by a very wealthy dowager to check on the mental state of her granddaughter, they find themselves in a remote, yet beautiful home, one owned by old money.

Meeting the inhabitants of the house is strange and spooky. Quinlan, the husband is strange and foreboding, and quite ruthless. They find him to be a bore and quite disgusting. When they find there is a son, Dr. Jargon is amazed. This was not in any of the information he received. What seems to be missing however, is Mrs. Westhaven’s granddaughter. Quickly making himself unwelcome, the Dr. makes an enemy of Quinlan, yet Quinlan finally allows him to meet his wife. What he finds is not at all close to what is expected. With only one item of interest to give to Mrs. Westhaven, they are chilled and dismayed by the strange and deadly sounds they hear throughout their stay. Warned of the dangers lurking, they are warned to stay in their rooms after dark. What is happening, and is there more than meets the eye? Nothing is what it seems, and danger lurks at the very edge of darkness. Who will make it out alive?

Groover has given us and interesting story with just enough oddness to be pulled in. What seems to begin as a story of possible betrayal and madness seems to come around in a strange fashion with an odd and broken love story. There is something particularly gruesome about Quinlan and his son, something that seems wild and out of control. Why does his wife stay free of their influence and yet profess an absolute undying love. His characters are well told with exceptional visuals, and the rituals that are written are so real that you can feel the disgust as well as their visitors.

While you are in the loop to an extent as to what the visitors think is happening, you are still surprised and horrified, which make this such a spooky story.

I would recommend this story to the horror reader, and if you like lycan or werewolf stories this would also be a great book for your library. The characters step from the pages and make you feel their fears and understand their qualms at the sounds and feelings engendered. This is not the light and fascinating stories that often intrigue with their charm; this is a deep and dark story bordering on madness.

Lock the doors but do not turn out the lights; this is one that will stick with you.

Rated 4/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Fading Into Magic by Vone Savan

Article first published as Book Review: Fading Into Magic by Vone Savan on Blogcritics.

The death of a loved one is always difficult to deal with. When you are a young adult and a parent dies, the anguish is twofold. Survivor’s guilt is often the fallout, and the pain of separation colors the fabric of your actions.

In Fading Into Magic by Vone Savan, we follow the exploits of Madeline Morgan and her friends as they try to reconcile the strange occurrences intruding into their lives. Friends forever, Maddy, Dara, Kelsey, and Casper all rely on each other for companionship and honesty. Maddy struggles with life, her mother has died and her father, unable to deal with the pain, has buried himself in alcohol. Having always been a believer in magic, she no longer feels the same. To her, if magic truly existed her mother would not have died. Yet there is still just that little bit of hope, hidden deep within her heart.

Her friends do their best to keep her engaged, and when Dara gets the name of a Fortune Teller, she convinces Maddy they must have their fortunes told. Entering the tent, they immediately feel a strange sense of magic, but brush it off. Madame Anca, the teller, has a heavy accent, and looks more like a witch with her strange claw like hands and fingernails. Her reading on Maddy hints at a love that is soon to find her. Maddy is desperately searching for love so she is hooked immediately. Yet everything about the visit is strange. Dara scoffs at the teller, finding her to be quite strange and Maddy agrees. Yet as she thinks about the reading, she decides she needs to know more. Visiting Madame Anca one more time, she hears the same hope of love, and that small spark of believing begins to unravel again.

The first day of school following this bizarre happenstance, the group meets two new students. Stefan and his twin sister, Catalina Varias, are handsome and mysterious. Yet when Maddy has occasion to interact with Stefan, she is captivated. She begins to wonder about the fortune she received. As Maddy and Stefan get to know one another, the feeling is reciprocated. Has love really found her? Just as she begins to believe her life will change, strange things begin to happen. Her friends begin to act oddly. Then her life and that of her friends and family are threatened by an evil willing to kill them in the name of revenge. What is happening, and how can Maddy keep them all safe?

Savan has written a tale of young love and loss. He has twisted it with bits of magic and lore. His characters are very much like the high school students of today, each with flaws and beliefs, trying to find themselves as the go through the changes that will take them to adulthood. Maddy has a pain that runs deep and Savan has done a great job of bringing to light the guilt that often comes from the death of a parent. His characterization of the different personalities is well done, and you can picture each of the characters upon their reveal.

The story is fun and yet has a taint of evil and revenge. The flow is smooth and easy to follow and the magic spells incorporated throughout the telling are fun. Written in verse with a bit of rhyme they add a touch of charm to the telling.

This would be a great book for the YA reader; it is full of characters, bits of magic and an overall humor that adds to the dynamics. This is a light read and I found the telling to be interesting. It would make a great gift for the holidays for that YA fantasy reader on your list.

Rating 4/5

This book was gifted as a free Kindle from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Article first published as Book Review:The Help by Kathryn Stockett on Blogcritics.

Life in the 60’s, in Jackson, Mississippi was difficult for most people. Being a black maid, raising children not your own, was made even more difficult by the times.

In The Help by Kathryn Stockett, we follow the coming of age of a young white woman, one raised and well loved by her own family’s black maid, Constantine. When Miss Skeeter goes away to school to learn a trade in writing, she maintains a long distance relationship via letters. When the letters suddenly stop, she is hurt by the silence, but knows she will get an explanation from Constantine when she gets home. Little does she know at that time, she will never see her loving maid again.

Elizabeth Leefolt and Hilly Holbrook are Skeeter’s best friends. Having grown up together, they maintain that relationship. They belong to the same groups and attend the same parties. When Elizabeth has a daughter, her maid Aibileen takes on the task of caring for her. For Aibileen it is a labor of love, Mae Mobley is a sweet child, and Aibileen dotes on her. But Skeeter begins to see a different world than the one she remembers.

Fresh out of school, Skeeter decides to apply for a job as editor, for the publishers Harper and Roe. When she receives a letter back from Elaine Stein, the senior editor, she is in heaven. However the letter is to inform her she is not being hired. Miss Stein is willing to look at her writing though, but informs her that is must be both interesting and dear to her heart. Skeeter offer up her thoughts but is turned down.
When she continues to interact within her circle, she begins to pay attention to the interaction of the maids and the families they work for. Remembering her own upbringing, she decides to get the maids to tell their stories; this is what she will submit. Little does she know just how dangerous and difficult of a task this is. This is a turbulent time, a time of race riots, murders and hate. How will she move forward, and who will tell their story?

As Skeeter works on her plan she finds a job with the Jackson Journal. She will write the Miss Myrna column, a column that supplies answers to domestic questions. She decides to get help with the answers from an expert. Her friend Elizabeth allows her to ask, Abilieen, her own maid for answers. This bond than forges a trust, and an uneasy alliance that will shake up the very foundations of the Jackson, Mississippi lives and interactions, giving a voice to a group of people long oppressed.

Stockett has written a story set in the turbulent era heralding the death of a beloved president, John F Kennedy, the murder of Medgar Evers, and the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. Hate and distrust were high, and life for many of these maids was unimaginable. Stocketts characters are strong, sometimes bold, yet sometimes silent. She ads humor and fun, as well as danger and intrigue into her dialogue. Writing from the point of view of numerous characters, she has done an amazing job of pulling together a story that gets to the heart of the times.

Using fact and fiction she weaves a strong telling of how life was lived in these households. Using her own background, she uses her knowledge to get into the heart of what living during this time may have really looked like.

I would recommend this book for a book club or reading group. The style is interesting and while a bit difficult to begin, once you understand the technique the story evolves and takes you to that time and place in history. As is often quoted, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”, and Miss Stockett puts you right in the middle, making you think. The humor is real, but the pain and angst also weave their way into the fray. The characters are gutsy and bold, pulling you in, and earning your respect. A great book for your library.

Rating 4/5

Christmas Lites, New Anthology, soon to be released and interview

The writing and blogging world is filled with people who really care about others. Many form bonds with the others they interact with. Groups and friendships develop, and it is within these confines that an exciting and giving idea was born. Numerous people got together, the authors agreeing to write short stories, the editors to fix them up just right, formatters doing the thing they need to do, and a cover artist putting together a great look, each with an idea to make something special, an ideal holiday book.

Now you might wonder. What’s the big deal?

One of the group moderators has given an interview to allow us to understand the thoughts and processes behind the book. The other two moderators of the group were just as involved in the work and all deserve a shout of thanks, and nice job. Please take the time to read this post in its entirety, and meet the special people that took time out of their already busy lives to make something that will bring joy to an untold number of people in the world.

Below, is the interview, the link to the  book cover reveal, a great book trailer, and the list of the wonderful people involved in the backstage of the work as well as those who have been involved in every facet. Please help us to thank them all and support their efforts. Your support also supports the charity, as well as our deployed troops overseas. So without further ado….. Take it away Cambria.

Thank you so much for having me here today to talk about Creative Reviews Project! Here are the quick STATS on the book:


My name: Cambria Hebert (one of the creative reviews moderator. Also an author)


Book Title: Christmas Lites (A Creative Reviews Short Story anthology)


Publication Date: November 26, 2011


Format: Print and Ebook


Available: Smashwords, Amazon and BN





How many authors have donated work for the anthology? How did you reach out to them?

We have 25 authors who have contributed to this anthology. Some of them, this is their first time being published others have other published works. We reached out to them through our Good Reads Group Creative Reviews. We also posted to Facebook and some of our group members posted to their blogs.




Besides authors, who else donated time or materials?

We have been fortunate because so many have helped us. Dafeenah Jameel of Indie Designz designed the front and back cover of the book and we had two other design contributors: Regina Wamba (she designed the little Christmas tree logo inside the book) and Fean Lee.


We had two editors: Amy Eye and Vered Ehsani and we had several proofreaders donate their time. Their names are: Tricia Kristufek, Cassie McCown and Alan Zendell.


Amy eye formatted the book.


Jenn Pringle has been our go between for the charity that we selected.


Myself (Cambria Hebert) made the book trailer and was the go between for the Ebook drop.


We have countless bloggers and group members who are helping to promote the book and get its name out there for sales as well.




How did you come up with the charity? The ebook is also being sent to soldiers, deployed throughout the world. Is this a regular event, or something put together for this venue?

We talked throughout the group about many charities and we all kept coming back to women and children so we decided within the group that the NCADV would be a good charity. NCADV stands for National Coalition against Domestic Violence. They do a lot of great work and are so deserving of this donation. To find out more about them please visit their site: http://www.ncadv.org . The free Ebooks for the troops was something that I wanted to do as my husband is a Marine and I know how much the troops go through in deployment. Everyone in the group thought that including them was a wonderful idea. Operation Ebook Drop is something that anyone can get involved in at any time during the year. It is not seasonal. I found them on Facebook. Basically, they give you a list of all the deployed troops that are requesting free books and you email them a coupon code for a free book. I think this is a wonderful way to give someone far from home something to escape into for a little while.





When is the books estimated time to be released for sale? Where will it be available for sale?

We are trying to have the book ready to go and for sale on November 26, 2011. That’s black Friday for all our US residents.  It will be available where all books are for sale. Amazon, smashwords, and Barnes and Noble.




As an author yourself, did you find it difficult to find time for the project?

To be honest, yes. LOL. I have a lot of upcoming releases myself during the next two months and this project has been a lot of work. But I would do it all over again because it is for such a wonderful cause. I have been truly blessed this year and this is one way I can give a little of that back.






This is a wonderful thing for those in need. If successful do you think this will become a yearly program?

Hmmm. I’m not sure. I do think that if this is successful we will probably do it again. I think that it is a wonderful idea and a great way for our group to come together and help others.





List of authors and story titles:

Shane Stilson: Higher Ground

E.C. Stilson: How I Found My Soul Mate and Turkey Avenger

Vered Ehsani: Christmas Ghost

C.S. Splitter: Whimper

Phil Cantrill: Christmas Story

Brett Talley: Last Year’s Eggnog

Catherine Forbes: The Gateway Incident

Mark Koning: Sweet Child

Tricia Kristofek: Accidentally Gift Wrapped

Paige Kellerman: Christmas Disco

L. A.Wright: Star of Christmas

S. Patrick Pothier: The Road to Comfort

Cassie McCown: Mirror

Angel Armstead: All I want for Christmas

Ottilie Weber: ‘Tis the Holiday Spirit

Amy Eye: The Hunt

JA Clement: A Sprig of Holly

Richard Phelan: Memories of the Splendid Splinter

Mark Mackey: An Amy Harkstone Christmas

Lizzie Ford: Santa’s Ninja Elf

Nicholette Alexandr: Broken Glass

Mark Faulkner: Face

Cambria Hebert: The Perfect Ornament and Blank

Angela Yukiro-Smith: Only That Day Dawns

Mysti Parker: No title yet

http://theunlockeddiary.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-lites-cover-and-trailer.html?showComment=1320849386600#c4575587541113575775

http://www.indiesupporter.com/2011/11/cover-and-book-trailer-reveal-of.html

Lodestone, Book Three: The Crucible of Dawn by Mark Whiteway

Article first published as Book Review: Lodestone, Bood Three: The Crucible of Dawn on Blogcritics.

In a world of Science Fiction, what seems unbelievable at first glance seems to come to fruition some years later. Many of the gadgets we are familiar with today, first found credence in the mind of a writer.

In Lodestone, Book Three: The Crucible of Dawn by Mark Whiteway, we follow the continued exploits of a group of Kalani who are trying to save their world, and release their people from oppression. The humans have found a cache of Lodestone, a substance from a different universe, located on Kalani, and have enslaved much of the population, forcing them to mine the ore. Using the powerful Keltar to force obedience, life for the Kalani has become a hopeless drudgery. Lodestone is highly sought for its use in weaponry, although the Keltar have used it for generations as a tool to help them quell the Kalani. Assigned to take charge of the mining, the Keltar do not realize the treachery of the humans. While the Keltar feel they are in charge, the humans have found a way to hide their real purpose.

A spirited young female Kalani and a group of ten unlikely heroes set out to cross the Sea of Storms, ready to use the four components of Annata, to save their world. Having secured the components necessary, Shann and Rael, two of the carriers are lost at sea, with their fate unknown. Lost on an island, Shann and Rael find themselves right where they need to be. As time winds down, and with the help of a strange and legendary Chandara, Boxx, can they overcome the internal conflicts and work together to find a way to find to disarm or destroy the human’s strange new weapon?

In their quest to find the answers, they find unique and remarkable truths about themselves. As the time grows short and all is at stake, will the Chandara make a stand? What is their place in the interplanetary dispute? With the strange abilities of Boxx, and his odd way of speaking in riddles, can our group of heroes convince the Chandara to help them in their final quest?

Whiteway has done a remarkable job of staying true to the Science Fiction of old. He has developed a world full of promise and passion, and peopled it with a race of beings, unique in appearance. Along with the Kalani, and the Keltar, the planet is also home to some dangerous beasts, such as the murghal and valthar. Also making their home on this planet are the strangely enigmatic Chandara, once thought extinct. By weaving technology and learning, a superior avionics division, and a hostile world full of strangely barbaric inhabitants, Whiteway has given us an unusual twist to the credibility of his world and characters.

Described in detail his world is easy to envision, and his characters have the ability to come alive and leap off the pages. A fun and exciting read, the story is also full of angst and personal demons. The flow is exceptional, and the story is quite enthralling.
I would recommend this to the science fiction aficionado, but the story would also be appropriate for the YA reader. Full of fun and danger, action and adventure, and characters that either charm or repel the story holds an unforgettable appeal. This would be a great book for your library, and while you are contemplating the purchase, you might check out his previous novels. He just gets better and better.

Rating 5/5

I received the book free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Nocturne by Syrie James

Posted First at the Romance Reviews

In Nocturne, Syrie James has given us a poignant yet searing tale of forbidden love. From the beginning you are haunted by the longing and mystery of this pair of strangers as they overcome their fears and allow their passions to ignite. Set in the beautiful snowy mountains of the Northwest, you fall in love with the characters as well as the beauty. The mystery gently pulls you into the depth of secrecy and desire that finally springs forth into a raging inferno.


Heading Home from a ski trip, Nicole Whitcomb is not ready to give up the beauty of the mountains and snow. Yet she must, but finds herself the last to leave as she absorbs the beauty and freshness to hold in her memory. Waiting until the last minute she believes she will outdrive the storm that appears to be building. As the curtain of snow thickens, Nicole begins to realize she may have made a terrible error in judgment. Rounding a curve and hearing a horrific sound behind her, she realizes she has no choice but to move forward as her retreat has been cut off by an avalanche that has covered the road. As she realizes her danger she feels her control slipping away as her car plows into a snow bank, knocking her unconscious.

Michael Tyler has moved into the quiet country to be alone. With the equipment to keep his own property free of snow, he clears his road of the heavy slush and snow that begins to pile up during this latest storm. Seeing headlights where there should be none, he is unsure what he wants to do. All too quickly the decision is no longer his as he see the vehicle leave the road and almost bury itself under a snow bank. Knowing the road has now been closed and with no chance of rescue from the authorities or road crews, he must react. His surprise and dismay are apparent as he finds Nicole unconscious and realizes he must take her into his home until the roads are clear and she is able to recover enough to move on.

This bringing together of two people in the middle of nowhere, with no other humans present for miles creates an initial tenseness, that soon becomes an attraction, difficult to ignore.

The tensions build, yet there are secrets that Michael is not willing to share. As the passion and begins to weave its way in even the mildest of conversations, Nicole does not understand why Michael ignores the signs. She can feel his interest, but she can also sense a strange and foreboding secret that nips at her internal alarms. The heat level is exciting but the mystery is intriguing and yet terrifying at some level.

James has given us an incredibly sexy story set in the beauty of an unspoiled frozen tundra. The weather forms a barrier that brings in a dream like quality to the story, making it both haunting and exciting. The interplay of the characters is playful and yet sometimes hurtful as they continue to fight the flames of love and lust that begin to bloom and grow.

You will love this beautiful and mysterious story, full of love and longing, but with a passion that sizzles through the pages. The characters are bold and imaginative and our hero Michael is everything a woman looks for in a man, but just a bit more. What is the Secrect he is hiding? Why is he so elusive and why does he never eat, and rarely sleep? Be prepared for an old fashioned, burning love story with up to the minute suspense.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free through the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.