Merry Christmas from Book Readers Heaven!

My sister, Dee, and I will be spending

most of the day at the hospital where

my brother-in-law is... 

May the peace of God's love dwell

among us... everywhere...

Being Thankful Today..For the Day, For my Readers, .For Family and Friends, For the Almighty God...

Thanksgiving Dinner Poem, Song and Prayer

Sing the following to the same tune, We Gather Together...

Our table is set now; great food you can bet now.
It's Thanksgiving Day, and we're ready to eat;
All those near and dear us are here today to cheer us.
This dinner is a winner, a wonderful treat.

It's time to be thankful for all that God gives us;
Dear Lord, we are grateful; Dear God, hear our prayer.
It's You we are praising; our voices we are raising;
Bless us and bless this food; keep us safe in your care.

By Joanna Fuchs
http://www.poemsource.com/

Adolph Caso Shares Thoughts on Columbus Day...2015

Christoper Columbus arrives in America (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Columbus Day: 
12 October 2015


Observations and Reactions, 
by Adolph Caso






1. Europeans, including Chinese, and Columbus were aware of China and not of the Americas.

2. Neither the inhabitants of the Americas nor those of the known continents knew each other.

3. On October12, 1492, Europeans first met with “Native Americans” and vice versa.

4. Columbus described the natives as well built, wearing no clothes, with good disposition, and easily conquerable.

5. On his return to Spain, he took four natives aboard ship. Two decided not to go, and dove into the water. The other two remained aboard. In Spain, the Europeans saw “Native Americans” for the first time. The King and Queen employed the two in their court, and they died of natural causes.

6. The second voyage included fifteen ships, a large number of soldiers, trade personnel, including samples of domestic animals, including horses, plants, books, manuals, religious relics, etc. Though the leader of the enterprise, except for piloting the ships safely across the ocean, Columbus was only a figure-head. The Spaniards were in command.

7. On the third voyage, Columbus guided the Spaniards’ return to the new world islands. There, he was imprisoned, place in chains and brought back to Spain, where the Queen pardoned him.

8. Columbus was once again placed in command of the fourth voyage bearing other resources to the islands. While the Spaniards went on with their daily activities, Columbus explored lands far beyond the headquarters, landing on present-day Panama. There, the natives besieged the Spaniards. Out of food, Columbus used astrology to convince the natives to give them food. As a result he sailed back to his quarters by way of Cuba. Back in Spain, he retired in anonymity, and with very little to show for his services.

9. Columbus did not trade in slaves. He was only a foreign captain at the service of Spain.

10. On the day he died, there were no usual banners posted in the squares or at the churches announcing Columbus’ death. Yet, because of him, you and I are enjoying the America of immigrants—Columbus having been its very first. Except, wherein you and I may be gratefully enjoying and enhancing our lives thanks to Columbus, for the rest of us, he should remain in obscurity. In their eyes, Columbus committed crimes perpetrated by others.

11. Relating to slavery, Columbus found natives practicing cannibalism, enslavement, and de-capitations by the tens of thousands. Enslavement may be practiced by private individuals or institutions, conducted by kings, presidents, ministers, tribal chiefs, and heads of households. When Columbus sailed, the slave trade was flourishing, whether he was for or against it.

12. As for Columbus’ sailing abilities, he crossed the ocean eight times without making errors; at the same time, he taught the Spaniards how to sail beyond the Pillars of 
Hercules.

This is a little late because of my not having the time to check my mail...but still wanted to share Adolfo's contribution for Columbus Day!

Thank you, Adolfo!

Come Spend Easter With Me, Listening to Hymns I've Always Loved - Featuring Poetry by Paul M. Kramer

Believe Or Do Not Believe

You can choose to believe that you’re not worthy or deserve happiness.

You can choose to see clouds where others see sunshine.

You can choose to believe that the glass is half empty.

That we live only once and no more,

that after our death, there’s only nothingness.

You can choose to believe that your glass is half full,

that God is real and that God is true.

You can choose to believe,

that you indeed have a soul,

that you are more than just a body,

that your spirit will remain forever whole.

You can choose to believe or not to believe.

Paul M Kramer 

A FRESH NEW START

Once again you have awakened.

Be grateful for this day.

Let go of needless worry.

Turn negative thoughts away.

View the world more optimistically.

Open the channels of your mind.

New and wonderful experiences await you.

Leave old regrets behind.

For today is a new beginning,

a brand new fresh start.

The past is yesterday’s news

Today you can choose love to fill your heart.

Paul M. Kramer

BEYOND THE CLOUDS

Clouds are born to bring us water necessary for us to survive.

They were not created to rain on our parade.

Eventually the rain does stop and the clouds dissipate.

Clearly enabling us to see and feel the glory of the sun.

Above the clouds there is nothing but clear skies.

A place filled with sunshine, love and beauty.

Let us not let clouds dampen our spirits, or depress us.

Confusion and doubt can cloud our vision.

The clouds in our minds are sometimes so thick we lose our direction.

Let our faith open our minds and see through our self-induced clouds.

Unconditional love and goodness abides within us.

Faith is cloud-free and will bring us clarity.

With clarity there is joy and happiness.

Without clarity there are clouds, fear and uncertainty.

Paul M. Kramer

Welcome to Anne Louise O'Connell on Blog Tour for Deep Deceit! Out Today!

In celebration of International Women’s day, on March 8, 2015, (and my birthday, LOL) award-winning, Canadian author, Anne Louise O’Connell officially launches her latest novel, Deep Deceit, which one reviewer calls ‘gripping’ and ‘masterful’. It also begins her Blog Tour! Welcome Anne!

“I’ve now started a tradition of launching my novels on the same day,” said O’Connell. “Since my main characters are women and the plots are typically driven by the emotional development of these women, along with thematic issues that predominantly impact women, International Women’s Day seemed like a good choice.”

Other underlying themes in the book also resonate with a female readership, such as domestic abuse and oppression. Some sensitive mental health issues come into play as well as the protagonist faces bouts of depression, and her abusive husband lashes out as he fights against the demons of post-traumatic stress.

“The author's portrayal of the complexities of emotional damage is insightful and she demonstrates that nothing comes from nothing, and we are all vulnerable when it comes to our mental health,” said Jae De Wylde, author, The Thinking Tank and Sleeping People Lie. “O'Connell cleverly combines the thrill of the chase with intense psychological elements, as her characters unravel under the pressure of events beyond their control.”

A sneak peek into Deep Deceit:

When Celeste Parker’s daughter Tamara goes missing in Dubai the all-out search and rescue mission she anticipates never materializes. Put off by the police as 18-year-old Tamara is technically an adult, and no foul play is apparent, Celeste has a gut feeling something is terribly wrong. New to the city and with her husband away working in Saudi Arabia, Celeste turns to her new friend and fellow expat, Susan Morris, for help. The duo set off on a hunt, which takes them down a dark alley of deep deceit. From exotic nightclubs and high-class call girls to mysterious Saudi palaces hidden behind ominous walls, they follow each lead while uncovering the unthinkable. As they come closer to finding Tamara, the secrets Celeste and Susan uncover threaten not only her daughter's life but everyone in their families’ as well.

Deep Deceit will be available on Amazon in both print and on Kindle. The Kindle version will be available through KDP Select for free on March 9th and 10th. Pre-orders are available now at http://amzn.to/1zZrxEU.

O’Connell’s debut novel, Mental Pause, was a 2013 Independent Publishers Book Award winner. If you haven't read it yet, click over to read my review!

To learn more about the author visit www.anne-oconnell.com. Interact with her on social media at www.facebook.com/annethewriter, www.twitter.com/annethewriter, and at www.goodreads.com/annethewriter.

~~~

Deep Deceit

By Anne Louise O'Connell

Sweat mingled with sunscreen and sand,
streaming into Susan's eyes, almost
blinding her. Her arms shook and she
didn't know how much more she could
take.
"Come on girls... give me 10 more or no
water break!" screamed the burly Neand-
erthal Susan nicknamed "The Sadist'.
She looked over at the latest newcomer
whose face glowed a brilliant shade of
crimson and who, after each push-up,
fell flat on her belly, and Susan felt
sorry for her. She'd introduce herself
and take her for a cold one once this
evening's desert boot camp finished.
~~~

When I first saw the front cover and the back blurb, also excerpted above, I was afraid that the story line would be dark. Let me quickly say not only is it not, but the plot was totally unexpected and wrapped up so well that I was immediately caught by and held by the female lead characters. Have fun with this one!

Celeste Parker had been beaten down by one man after another, assuming that she was the one who was unable to deal with issues, and often in depression...

World's Largest Mall in Dubai...
This was Susan's second round at boot camp. The
only thing that kept her coming back was that it helped
her shed what everyone called the 'Dubai stone',
a whopping 14 pounds. She had gained it since
moving to the most glamorous place on earth, with
lots of temptation and not too much work...She'd
started 'boot camp' after she caught a glimpse of her
widening rear-end in a shop window reflecting back
at her in all its calorie-induced glory...
~~~

Until she met Susan Morris, a psychiatric nurse, who was not working at this time. Both are expats living in Dubai. Both husbands out of town... Celeste's daughter was sleeping over at a friend's home... So when Susan introduced herself to Celeste, she quickly accepted her invitation to go for a drink. Hours later she realized that she was so relieved to have a friend to talk to!

Long's Bar, Dubai...
"You don't know how nice it is to finally have someone to talk to," Celeste put her hand on Susan's arm. "I've been so busy getting Tamara settled. It's been particularly difficult for her...as a teenager it's tough to change schools and it's her last year of high school. I'm so focused on the transition I haven't had time to do anything for myself, which I know is important but there are only so many hours in a day..."

It was after midnight when they left there and both knew they had met someone who could become a close friend. That was especially important for Celeste since her daughter was giving her the typical teenage frustration, especially now that she was 18 and considered an adult...

Which became very important when it was discovered she was missing! The last Celeste had seen her was when they had decided upon their new place to live, been bullied by somebody following them who had even hit them from behind, only then to have Tamara grab a cab to head out to meet her friend, leaving her mother to deal with everything alone.

It was no wonder that she started thinking about the past...when her first husband had disappeared, when his partner made an overture and she had responded and when, she discovered she was pregnant, they were married.
Had she made a mistake? Because there were times when Ryan, her husband, could be so cruel... Even when she called him to let him know Tamara was missing, he told her she'd just have to deal with it...

I was feeling the same way that Susan was when Celeste told her what he'd said. "What a loser!, right?"

Susan was obviously concerned about Celeste, but she also felt excited for herself--she was a mystery lover and was dying to help Celeste work to find Tamara, especially when the police showed no real interest in helping find her.
And then they were able to discover that Tamara's passport had been used, heading for Saudi!

Tamara opened her eyes and blinked hard to clear the blurry images floating around her like the shadows of zombies coming out of the mist. She closed them again and her hand floated up, almost disembodied, to her throbbing temple. This was worse than a hangover... and she hadn't even drunk very much. Not tha she could remember anyways... Jeez, what was in that last drink? She pulled the covers up over her head not wanting to face the day yet. She couldn't remember how she got home and vaguely remembered an Arab gentleman approaching her in the club and said he recognized her from when she lived in Saudi and knew her father. Everything after that was a blur.

The sweet smell of lavender wafted from the sheets and poked at her subconscious. That was odd. Her mother never used lavender-scented anything because it reminded her of when her first husband had proposed to her in a garden in South Africa. Tamara slowly lowered the sheets and peeked out. These weren't her sheets and this wasn't her room...it wasn't Heidi's either...

She would have to make herself known to the rest of the household and face the music! The situation would have been funny if only her head didn't hurt so much. Bravely, she stroke across the room, reached for the doorknob and turned. The door was locked. She shook the knob and pulled again. Nothing. How strange...She could feel the start of a nervous quiver squirreling around in the pit of her stomach...

~~~

The suspense is high. the threat real, the deceit unbelievable! Susan proves to be very good at leading an investigation. In fact, she will soon be having her own series according to the author. Great! 

The novel takes readers deep into the culture and family relationships of Saudi Arabia, including attending a royal wedding, which had the theme of the Great Gatsby! With the men and women having separate parties so the women could remove their outer clothes. For, of course, the requirement for females to be totally covered when outside. Apparently, it is quite different when the high fashion and bling they wear appears inside! I enjoyed this very much!

More than a cozy mystery with its drama and suspense, the relationship between Susan and Celeste is such a great addition to the novel, as Susan helps Celeste gain her independence. Watching Celeste's mental well-being change, until she helps create the dramatic ending, was worth reading the whole book, and that's a special bonus. I enjoyed this fantastic, unique story! Well done! I believe you can get a bargain on the 9 and 10th...so do check this one out immediately! And Enjoy!

GABixlerReviews

The Snow Garden By Christopher Rice, Republished with More Material, Becomes my First Personal Favorite for 2015

 "You live here?" she asked. Mitchell nodded, tugging his keys from his pocket as he moved past her.

He threw open the front door. She took a few hesitant steps into the darkened foyer. Mitchell flicked the switch and light from a brass chandelier fell on walls painted so white she almost squinted. She followed as Michell ducked into the living room. Another chandelier came on and she gasped.

Mitchell turned to see her reaction.

Kathryn held up both hands as if to shield her eyes.

"The Garden of Earthy Delights," Mitchell informed  her proudly.

It took up the entire living room wall, in vivid color and dizzying detail. She had glimpsed the painting bfore, but enlarged onto an entire wall its effect was overwhelming. The naked figures cavorting in a surreal garden of science fiction-like fountains and gently rolling hills looked like pure anarchy. The scene showed pleasure taken to its most ghastly extreme. From where she stood in the doorway the clusters of naked figures looked like swarming insects. The living room itself seemed designed not to disract from the reproduction. A faded Oriental rug covered the hardwood floor. The sofa and chairs were a muted beige. The other white walls suddenly made more sense; she guessed each one was a potential canvas.

As she approached the wall, she almost walked into the glass-topped coffee table; only its slight metal frame made it visible.

She felt Mitchell move next to her.

"It's..."

"Go ahead."

"It's too much."

It sho9uld be," Mitchell answered, not offended.

"What's it supposed to be? Heaven?

"Not even close. Earth."

~~~

After several long minutes, Randall got up, turned on his desk lamp, and returned his attention to Eric's book.

Twentieth-century viewers of Bosch's work have demonstrated a reluctance to view his Garden of Earthly Delights as a condemnation of human sexuality consonant with the established views of the medieval church. In particular, the central panel, with its deceptively beautiful depiction of a paradise earth, has been the subject of relentless speculation. Wilhelm Fraenger put forth a highly questionable but nonetheless wildly popular theory that the entire altarpiece was commissioned by a secret heretical cult known as the Brethren of the Free Spirit, and that the central panel is actually a depiction of the cult's religious rites. Little is known about the Brethren of the Free Spirit beyond the fact that their practices included some form of ritual promiscuity, and that its members believed that unrestrained sexual activity was a method they could use to return themselves to the state of purity possessed by Adam before the fall. Consequently, its members were also known as Adamites. However, it is impossible to isolate the central panel from the altarpiece, and objective viewers must not forget that only several inches to the left, the same figures who take delight in the earth's fleshly pleasures are punished in hell for their joy.

As if Eric would ever forget, Randall thought...

~~~

The Snow Garden

By Christopher Rice

I guess after working nearly 40 years on a university campus, the last years managing and directing the utilization of university facilities, I am naturally attracted to the college environment as a favorite setting for novels. Then, too, both this novel and The Density of Souls, which was published yesterday, create a feel of the dark gothic tone I've loved since I first starting reading adult novels. This one, especially, also presents one of the most fascinating mysteries of suspense I've read. The author has also included information about the original publishing, what was changed...and more...to provide the readers an opportunity to get to know the author better.

The Snow Garden, originally published as Rice's second novel was his favorite of the first two. It is not similar to his debut except in his ability to hold readers in suspense and to a climatic ending, but more deeply reveals the writing genius that weaves a story that is ageless and certainly has a timeless story that will resonate for generations to come. 

The novel is amazing in the number of twists that come into the story, none of which could have been anticipated, at least in my opinion. At first, it comes across as a somewhat typical college campus student environment, with a variety of sexuality issues spotlighted that could be faced by any students who are excitingly moving away from home and trying to settle into a totally different environment where freedom seems the logical assumption. Ahhh, but that is where the mystery starts because one after another of the students find that either their past greatly influences their new-found freedom--or the personal interactions with other students totally opposes their expectations.

Let's just say that I was happy my university classes were taken as a part-time, working individual who had no time or interest in the social environment of full-time students...

"How was the meeting?" Kathryn asked,
standing awkwardly as April got down on all
fours and dove headfirst into her closet, which
was two feet deep and voered with a tattered
curtain instead of a door.
"I Need a beer." She tossed a pair of her Gucci
boots out behind her. They landed at Kathryn's
feet...
"Did you know there was a black national
anthem?"...April had gone to a meeting of
the African American Student Alliance, and
from the tone of her voice, it was clear that
her worst fears had been confirmed.
"It was like the first day of high school. I
walked into the center and the only person
that would even talk to me was Marcel.
...But with me, see, being biracial is a
problem because all the real black women
there think I'm going to steal all the good
men. Good black men who would take a
half-white woman over them any day.
How's that for unity?"
Kathryn gently curved an arm around
April's back and rested her chin on
April's shoulder. "So I guess you didn't
tell them you were a dyke."
~~~

The Prologue raises immediate interest, but then drops from the story, leaving the reader beginning to see the mystery start but left dangling...

There was one thing that caught my attention that others might not--there was a mention of a former student who was now acting as the architect for buildings on the campus in a very modern style as compared to the rest of the campus. I immediately wondered why--didn't they have a campus master plan to prevent that sort of thing? LOL... Well, this mention was minor so I ignored it as something that just personally interested me... Assuming that the money contributed to the college was the reason the buildings were being accepted. I was happy though that some of the students were upset with the change...

Of course this added reason for my personal pleasure--in more ways than one I discovered...

The main scene for the book is in the dorm of a few main characters. Somehow, perhaps because of their background, although it doesn't say specifically, Randall Stone and Kathryn Parker had become very close friends, although not romantically. Randall, she knew was gay. To me, her need for a gay friend was quickly apparent when we learn her past. And, to a great extent, so also for Randall...

Then we have Randall's roommate who seems to be on campus purely to see how many girls he can get into bed... Having been designated as roommates places an ironic twist in itself as Randall is confronted with not being able to get in his room often... BTW, it was a coed facility, which was an unusual twist for me to accept given the time frame. In fact, it led to some of the relationship issues, as girls who had been hurt by his promiscuity would no longer come to visit their friends on that floor...

Randall removed a silver flask from the inside pocket of
his jacket, accidentally or on purpose flashing the Helmut
Lang label...Eric felt hugely foolish because he was so
nervous that he had just offered one of his students--a
freshman--alcohol...Eric moved past him into the living
room, turning on lamps as he went. Light fell in stages,
and when it hit the reproduction of The Garden of Earthly
Delights, Eric heard a small gasp.
"Bosch."
...I've read your book," he said nonchalantly, his back to
Eric as he stared up at the framed print above the bookcase...
His gaze traveled from Eric's to the print across the room.
"I bought a print of it too....
"Do you believe him?"
~~~

Neil Patrick Harris seemed to fit the personality of Randall... A good-looking guy with a mysterious background, or at least one he was unwilling to share...

It was too easy for Eric to think he
could have prevented it all by not
answering the front door...But the
loud series of knocks startled him
and he was standing halfway down
the stairs. Early October dusk
darkened the foyer, and on the
other side of the door a shadow
was cupping its hands against the
glass pane, trying to peer inside.
"Professor Eberman?"
He didn't recognize the voice,
but no one called him Professor
Eberman. His colleagues called
him Eric...and so did most of his
grad students...His undergraduates
...rarely called him anything...
"Professor Eberman..." There
was a pleading note in the voice
now and it drew Eric...as he
saw the boy...he fought the
urge to slam the door shut in his
face. His name was Randall Stone;
the only reason Eric knew this was
because after spotting him in the
second row on the first day of
lecture, Eric went back to his
office and leafed through his
copy of that year's freshman
face book. A perfectly harmless,
private activity...
~~~

But we find that he had come to campus to meet Professor Eric Eberman, who had written a book delving into "The Garden of Earthly Delights," which had been painted centuries ago, but which seemed to continue to garner study and research by others, including Eberman (my choice Richard Gere).

Eberman was married by his wife had a sister with cancer and was away from home one weekends...

She awoke to the theme from Shaft.

Strange shapes drifted across the far wall and she sat up, groping for the halogen lamp next to her bed. The torchiere sent light to the ceiling, its styrofoam panels still scarred by the design of the beer bottle caps that she had found embedded in them on the day she moved in three months before. It was just eight p.m. Snowflakes were falling past the window, casting their shadows on the cinder-block wall on April's side of the room. Now that the roar of her nightmare had retreated, she was once again aware of the persistent and grating combustion of Stockton Hall, a four-story beehive of disconnected adolescents announcing their new collegiate identities with stereos turned up too loudly, wailing over the difficulty of their first midterms, their conversations ending in punch lines followed by explosions of forced laughter. Next door, the sounds of Shaft gave way to the earnest tones of television actors...Kathryn didn't know how she had managed to sleep through it all.

Randall's story had caused her nightmare. She reached for it on her desk.

The town of Drywater, Texas, exists because a woman named

Elena Sanchez was killed by a train...

Elena's only son, Ricky, didn't find this out until he was fifteen.

~~~

A bolt of silence struck. Eric fought the urge to ask
Randall if that was what he truly wanted--for Eric to
leave his wife of almost twenty years. But that question
would bring on a cascade of others and Randall
wouldn't be able to tolerate the answers, despite his
adult composure. The result would be the destruction
of the private world they had created in this darkened
bedroom, a world that allowed Eric to satisfy a thirst
that had gone unquenched for two decades.
~~~

"Where are you going?" Eric asked, suddenly aware that the idea of Randall leaving him alone again twisted something tight in his stomach.

"A party."

"So I was just a pit stop?"

Randall turned from the window. "Are you asking me to spend the night?"

"She not coming back."

"I know." Randall returned his attention to the flakes falling with determined force past the window.

"Sometimes I think she might never come back," Eric added, unnerved by Randall's silence.

"That would be easy, wouldn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean it would be easier than leaving her."

~~~

It wasn't very long before Eric's wife was killed when she was on her way to her sister's home, but instead crashed over a cliff...

Of course, that type of accident would cause an eruption of news and rumors all over campus. The first of which was if it truly was an accident or was it murder. No matter what was happening officially, Randall could not stop thinking of some of their conversations. He began his own investigation...

In the meantime, Kathryn had become interested in the grad student to Professor Eberman. The secrets started to fall apart, as part of the overall gossip, especially from one student who was working for the college newspaper. He and Randall had hooked up earlier in the year and now Randall had approached him, using their past relationship, to get him to help in his investigation.

Sooooo much more is happening on that campus and/or in the lives of those in that somewhat small circle of characters. It was only when the talk about the possible homicide that Professor Eberman was placed in a position of his secrets coming out... And that involved more than Randall...

Enough, I've shared only about the characters, since the novel is definitely character-driven. But the actual mystery and suspense is for readers to discover on their own! It's  Literally  Unbelievable... Readers will move into horror scenes that will in the end explain the title of the book, in a most decidedly unique, macabre manner that will chill and totally surprise all! At least for me, that is... Let me know if you even began to glimpse the ending for this one! The intricacy of his story is pure genius. For those mystery and suspense fans, I believe you will find, like me, that it is far superior to many tales of mystery and will doubtless be timeless in its top place in great suspense novels.

A masterpiece everybody should consider. In additional to other materials, the author has included his first ending which the publishers rejected... I'll agree that I prefer the revised, but I would have totally accepted the original as quite appropriate with the ending theme... Brilliant!

GABixlerReviews

By the age of 30, Christopher Rice had published four New York Times bestselling thrillers, received a Lambda Literary Award and been declared one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive. His first work of supernatural suspense, THE HEAVENS RISE, was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award. His debut, A DENSITY OF SOULS, was published when the author was just 22 years old. A controversial and overnight bestseller, it was greeted with a landslide of media attention, much of it devoted to the fact that Christopher is the son of legendary vampire chronicler, Anne Rice. Bestselling thriller writer (and Jack Reacher creator) Lee Child hailed Christopher's novel LIGHT BEFORE DAY as a "book of the year". Together with his best friend, New York Times bestselling novelist Eric Shaw Quinn, Christopher launched his own Internet radio show. THE DINNER PARTY SHOW WITH CHRISTOPHER RICE & ERIC SHAW QUINN is always playing at TheDinnerPartyShow.com and every episode is available for free download from the site's show archive or on iTunes. 

47North, the science fiction, fantasy and horror imprint of Amazon Publishing, recently published Rice's supernatural thriller, THE VINES. Rice's first erotic romance, THE FLAME: A Desire Exchange Novella, will also be published on November 11th as part of the 1,001 DARK NIGHTS series. Thomas & Mercer, the crime fiction imprint of Amazon Publishing will release new editions of his previous bestsellers A DENSITY OF SOULS, THE SNOW GARDEN and LIGHT BEFORE DAY on December 9th, 2014.