Welcome: Bitten Twice on Her Blog Tour! - Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?

Do You Believe in love at first sight?

"We were given: Two hands to hold. Two legs to walk. Two eyes to see. Two ears to listen. But why only one heart? Because the other was given to someone else. For us to find" - Unknown

What are the chances that you could meet someone that just seems so perfect that you want to be bound to them in some shape or fashion for the rest of your life? Then one day you see him stroll into the office.

He's tall, with an easy smile and laughing eyes. Wow, you could really sink your fangs into him. The suit, well tailored leaving you wondering about the muscles moving beneath the fabric... Eh! But then office romances never work!

Or the day you run into the food store looking a mess and bump into your potential Mr. Right. The contents of your carts tell you that you eat the same foods. Could your interests be the same also? Oh but you look a mess, so you couldn't possibly talk to him. First impressions are everything. Right? A quick smile, mumble apologies, and move on.

What is it about the partner of our dreams that allows us to size up the opposite sex so quickly and assess whether or not we have just met a potential mate? Why does it seem that men are more likely to take chances than women? After all, relationships take work at any stage of the game. When can you say that you truly know your partner? Even then, what can be said of our response to change? Some people have whirlwind romances and live their lives happily ever after. While others take a more conservative approach and still fail.

"Marked" is a tale of paranormal urban fantasy where the characters are challenged to defy the odds. Xan, a powerhouse of seduction, attracted to Catherine, a mousy and conservative administrative assistant, whose life is ruled by routine. Why do opposites attract and why can't they have a long life together?

I love to hear stories where folks have listened to their hearts and found their true loves to live a long healthy and satisfying relationship afterwards. I cheer those on that are well-grounded to bypass the societal norms and do what they feel is right rather than lead a life dictated by society. With that said, there is something to be said for individual personality and individual needs. Perhaps waiting is best, but if you are looking for that perfect man to sweep you off of your feet... do you wait until your hair is perfect when you've just bumped into Mr. Foodstore man? What obstacles stand in your way? Mom's voice saying wait, the fear of being wrong, or a power hungry demon threatening to kill you or make you his?

Do you believe in destiny or charting your own course? Who are you marked for? Who does your heart burn for? Does anyone have the answers?

Kind Regards

http://www.bitten2ice.com/

Author of: "A Blood Moon" – First in the Macedo Ink series available now

                      "Marked" - First of a Were series pending publication

                      “As Blood Rages” – Second in the Macedo Ink series pending publication

Connect with me on: facebook  or twitter  or Bitten2ice's Blog or LinkedIn or Ning or TalentMaven

Bitten Twice is an author who primarily writes in the paranormal romance and urban fantasy genres.

She recently released the first in the Macedo Ink vampire series in October of 2010 and can be found on the web at http://www.bitten2ice.com.

Bitten Twice currently lives in Hollywood, FL with her family. Courageously in love with one man and two children, they all take care of the family’s two dogs. Bitten is a lifetime member of the Florida Writer’s Association and an associate member of International Thriller Writers.

Review Coming in June with Bitten Twice on Her Blog Tour
Check out Book Blurb!

Great legends tell of the pairing of souls. 
Two that would come together in an eternal bond yielding great power. 
Forever marked with a destiny waiting to unfold
The wielders of light in darkness' final hour

Demonic forces threaten to tip the balance of power for all worlds. Xan, King of the Cats, is one of many called in by the Templar organization to eliminate the source of the trouble brewing in North America. Arriving in New York Xan, a powerhouse of seduction, meets Katherine and begins to wonder whether he has met his soul mate or fallen into a trap. The war with the underworld comes topside and Xan is in the midst of fighting an unfamiliar battle - rejection. Can Katherine accept their differences? 

Kierstead Writes on Work, Evolution, Lint, Boogers...and More!

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Save the Rats!
Oh, wait, does this go under Pets or Work?

The Lost Dialogues of Table 18


Kevin A. Kierstead






Reading the first book by Kierstead (I'll be reviewing three), I confess I was often thrown back into some big family get-togethers when a number of my nephews would come together and start talking. I can also remember that many times, the women in the room would yell, "oh gross..." and promptly get up to leave. We all agreed, it's a guy thing... Or, if you are a gal that enjoys weird humor...hey, go for it!

Now, I'm just going to go for the gold here folks. How often, do you consider the possibility of collecting boogers for the purpose of using them to create something? "I guarantee you that I could buy 50 lbs. of boogers for under $20 in a single day." (p. 81). Of course, the discussion didn't get deep enough to figure out how many people needed to acquire 50 lbs.

And then, I thought, there was the seasonal issue when there would be none because snot is prevalent in winter...

This small book also contains similar short essays on The Purpose of Life, Evolution, War, Pets, Men and Women, Political News, U.F.O.s, Buzz Words, Work, Bugs, Music, The Beach, Penguin, and Scam, Lint and Education. As you can see, the eclectic range of information is surely going to capture your immediate attention.

Take, for instance, Pets, which are one of my interests... This discussion started with sharing that a "Facebook" member talked about how cruel it was to put a dog to death and added photo after photo of those dogs scheduled. Now I must admit this one almost turned me off. But then, the question was broadened. Why didn't the girl post pictures of rats or snakes...for surely they had just as much right to be kept alive (especially with your money?) Still, finally, I did have to agree with the basic question...What leads an individual to take up causes such as "Save the Whales" for surely they've never met one or had one as a close friend?

Just don't say too much about cats, my personal friends...

Another topic that interested me was Work...It seems that work has been a main part of my life since I was adult. Like the woman they discussed, I Loved my job. Well, it was quickly determined that she, and I guess I, was lying...

Given what happened during the last few years of that job...I had to agree...

And then there was the dialogue on evolution. Now everybody knows that arguments go on continuously about this topic, so I wasn't expecting..."What if I told you evolution was an illusion.” (p. 13)

I didn't think I could create a good argument on that...

Because finally, I had already read “You know,” I said, “I got to thinking on the way in here; what is the purpose of life if you set aside all religions?” (p. 1)

And I realized that once I knew God, there was really not much more reason to discuss it after that...

Kevin A. Kierstead is not a standup comedian, but he was born in a distant galaxy...so that certainly explains just about everything, right? (And by the way, there's an essay about those who add "right?" or "isn't that right?" that you won't want to miss.) Highly recommended for those who enjoy humor about everyday life. A perfect gift for a brother, cousin, nephew...or your frat brother...LOL

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German Shepherd Gnarly Reads Sign Language to Save His Master!

Image by Magnus Bråth via Flickr

"Forget about pine needles, 
I'll just slip to the store and pick out
a big juicy bone..."

Old Loves Die Hard


A Mac Faraday Mystery


By Lauren Carr








Yes, Lauren, I picked up on the irony of Mac thinking he had to wait to payday to replace his grinding brakes... For those of you who did not read the first book in the Mac Faraday series, let me just share that Mac  inherited tons of money from his biological mother. She had been a well-known and successful writer of mystery novels before she died. Earlier, she had arranged to meet her son, who had been adopted. Now, though he still was not used to not having to wait for a payday, he lived in a mansion, owned a nearby vacation spot...and Gnarly...

Yes, he came with the house...

Gnarly is a very intelligent German shepherd (tested, even!), knows sign language, which is used to save Mac's life in this novel...and a thief! Seriously, the hijinks of Gnarly is enough to make the book worth reading!

But Mac Faraday is all about mystery and he's right in the middle of it this time! Because his ex-wife and her ex-lover were murdered in a beautiful penthouse suite owned by, you guessed it, Mac! Christine had come to visit Mac at his new home and quickly proposed that they get back together! Of course, she was already drinking when she had arrived but when she entered the home that she could have once called hers, she had moved more quickly than she should have.

In addition to what she had done to him emotionally by leaving and living with Stephen McGuire, Mac had another reason for totally being turned off by his ex-wife's manner. Her name was Archie. She, too, came with the property he had inherited...

Realizing he had to do something to get her out of his home, Mac had taken her to Spencer Inn where he learned he had an entire floor just waiting for his use or for his guests. Readers see the security through which Mac goes to finally get Christine in and settled, with a warning not to leave the suite.

But even with all that security, by the next morning she was dead. And so was Stephen McGuire...

When lots of people, involved in politics, are part of the story, you should know it will be a whodunit that is more difficult to solve. There was no way to keep track of those who had a reason to kill Christine and/or Stephen McGuire. Was it political? Personal? Was it jealousy? After all, Christine had met Stephen and a beautiful woman in the lobby as they arrived and had caused an awful scene, with Christine trying to attack Stephen!

But forensics proved that Christine was not the killer...

Then during the investigation it was discovered that Stephen McGuire was not who he said he was and had robbed Christine of everything during their time together, including, apparently, money that had been sent to Christine from one of her sisters...

He also, however, had been putting together a set of files that could prove wrongdoing in a government office. Honestly, just about everybody, including Mac, hated the guy enough to want him...dead...

And guess what, Mac and the Sheriff travel to Morgantown, WV, as part of their investigation! I was hoping to meet them since I live not too far away, but...

Anyway, I hope future readers do better than I did on solving this one. If so, let me know how you figured it out! I was stumped, reading through to the conclusion before everything was finally explained. Carr's main characters in this series are really wonderful. I love the Spencer Manor life as Mac is discovering his stock of fine wines, etc., and Archie and he are becoming closer and closer. Add Gnarly and you have a true family setting...even if we hear Mac yell, "Gnarly, I'm going to kill you, you thief!" quite often.

I'm in for the long-haul on this series and I think you will be too...so check out my review of the first book, It's Murder My Son! Plan to get both books and have a great weekend with another mystery lover, the author, Lauren Carr! And Enjoy!

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The Civil War is Not Over in Some Places...

Image by Tom Gill (lapstrake) via Flickr

Drummer Boy


By Scott Nicholson








This is my first novel from The Haunted Computer and I'm afraid, because now I can hear a faint Ratta-tat, ratta-tat coming from my computer... Oh, Wow, it's been awhile since I've read a spooky good story and I must emphasize that Drummer Boy certainly revived my enthusiasm! If you haven't had any great ghosts visiting recently, I highly recommend you start with Drummer Boy.

Because Colonel Kirk needs a new drummer boy...

Bobby Eldreth, Vernon Ray Davis and Dex McCallister are three young boys around which the story flows. In a town where there is a mine, that everybody called "The Jangling Hole," where Kirk's Raiders, a group of Civil War participants were supposed to have been killed, and still haunted, it was quite natural for boys to play "war." Even the big town boys played as they held reenactments for their own pleasure and to bring visitors into town.

So it was as the boys were playing nearby that Bobby heard something. Actually, Dex had stolen a pack of cigarettes and they went there to be alone while they smoked. Hearing something again, Bobby declared there was somebody in The Hole. Then a shot was fired and the cops and the store owner was coming toward the boys. But additional shots continued...

Before they left that day, Vernon Ray had entered The Hole. Thinking he was with Bobby, he was pulled far into its darkness...

Then he saw Bobby at the Hole opening, calling for him to get out of there...

Big construction equipment was being brought onto the hill where The Hole was. Plans called for the hill to be leveled for new construction. Were the ghosts angry because their home would be disturbed?

Or was the planning for the upcoming reenactment causing the agitation?

For whatever reason, at least one of them had left and was roaming around town. The boys saw a man walking the old railroad tracks coming from the trail from Mulatto Mountain. So did the sheriff.. And when he approached, “Churr-rain,” the man said. (p. 64) He had pulled his gun and covered him with his flashlight. That's when he noticed that the man left no footprints, in fact, his feet didn't even touch the ground...

And then Colonel Kirk started to track his deserter down and he brought his soldiers with him!

Many of the Titusville residents were related to soldiers who had been part of Kirk's group. Others had been affected more recently by The Jangling Hole. Now, as the ghosts were disturbed, one boy in particular started to hear the drum. Donnie Hardy had once been in The Hole and, although he was now a grown man, he still had the mind of that boy. Now he was being called back to play...but his father was going to prevent that one way or another!

In the meantime, those in town prepared for the upcoming reenactment. But when they were onsite, getting the camp set up, it was Kirk's Raiders who came to fight...

In the midst of one of the best ghost stories I've ever read, there is a minor but important life story about the relationship of one of the boys with his father and with his best friend...please watch for it and the moral it provides... Everybody loves a good ghost story, right? Well, I certainly loved his one. I believe you will too!

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A Song Saves Those Terrorized and Surrounded in Forest Fire!

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Freedom Crossing Monument

FireSong:


A Gus LeGarde Mystery


By Aaron Paul Lazar




Once again Gus LeGarde welcomes us into his home. And while he's shucking corn and shelling peas, preparing enough dinner that we just know we'll be invited, we sit back and begin to feel comfortable with this man who has surrounded himself with family, including his new wife, Camille. As I was thinking about writing my review, I had an interesting vision--of what had taken place in that home since the last novel!

Sure, life went on as usual for his daughter and grandchildren and for Siegfried who lives on the property in a separate building, but for Camille, she was moving into an established house, needing to find a way to make that house her home. I think she was successful because by the time we are visiting in Firesong, the latest book in this series, she has begun to explore the history of the house and the details of the architecture. In fact,  she has discovered her own mystery--was her new home once a shelter for slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad?!!

So while she is exploring, tapping walls, she finds that Mary Hill, once the owner of their house was a "conductor" of that Railroad. Readers will be enchanted as further history of their home is provided, leading to  the discovery of a secret room in their house...and much more!

But it was at church that the latest town mischief occurred--and it was caused by a major storm and tornado that caused considerable damage to the church. In fact, the storm began just at the beginning of a service and everybody was forced to relocate to the ground floor. Reverend Nahum Hardina was quick to help members of his congregation, and I wanted to introduce him early because he became a major character in FireSong when someone tried to kill him...and he was accused!

It all started when a body was discovered after the storm...

Hunting clothes remaining on the skeleton, together with a rifle and license quickly led to the identification of the body as Colin Springer. His disappearance had been quite a mystery and there had been stories of missing money and a possible trip with another woman as the reasons he had never been found. Now it looked like he had died from a hunting accident victim.

But he had been murdered! And, of course, Gus manages to be involved with most of the investigation!

It is always in the midst of Ordinary that something seems to happen in the LeGarde family home. Seigfried had suggested to Johnny that they go camping, so with his mother's consent and lots of food, Seigfried and Johnny head for the hills...

Gus woke in the middle of that night from storm lightning. Immediately he thought of the two campers and jumped up to go to them. Arriving just in time, he got Johnny and Seigfried awake but just then lightning struck a tree, flames sprung from everywhere in the dry woods caused by a drought. Soon all three were surrounded by fire!

And then they heard the song. “What’s dat song, Opa?” Johnny asked again. (p. 194)

Just like I said, Gus invites you into his home for dinner and before long, there's a dead body, an accused Reverend who by the way is drugged and in a coma, terror during a forest fire, and so much more--all leading to solving the crimes from this century as well as the past! Ok, I'll give you a hint, Mary Hill's skeleton was also discovered, along with the body of a slave...

I love Aaron Lazar's books! His style is homespun background that continues to flow daily while readers are tossed into tragedy, terror and some of the best mysteries you will find! If you haven't read Lazar, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning of a series. Sure, you can read FireSong immediately and thoroughly become involved and enjoy it. But I promise you're going to want to read the whole series...so don't say I didn't warn you! Highly recommended!

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Garrett Brothers Infiltrate Al Qaeda Strongholds!

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Hidden Threat


By A. J. Tata








A. J. Tata takes readers directly into special forces invasions of Al Qaeda territories in the third novel of his Threat series. What a fantastic read! Tata just keeps getting better and better! Highly recommended!


Legendary brothers Zachary and Matt Garrett are once again involved in protecting Americans--this time taking us into Afghanistan and Pakistan after the Al Qaeda. Zach had been sent on Operation Searing Gorge, into the mountains in Afghanistan, where it was believed a known Al Qaeda hideout was located. They were landing and leaving by helicopter. Zach had serious misgivings about the mission. And perhaps a premonition...
When the helicopter was leaving a count of individuals was made as they came on to ensure that everybody was back, but one of them was a suicide bomber! The 'copter exploded not too long after they lifted and not much was found. Search and rescue was only able to find the tags for Zach Garrett. Still...could the mission have been successful? It had been planned to leave misinformation that hopefully would be found, but Garrett had held that information and his feedback was not available now...


Back home, we meet Amanda, the daughter of Colonel Zachary Garrett who routinely has led our special forces commandos into the most dangerous actions undertaken by our troops. However, Amanda could care less about her father, until it is too late. When representatives came to inform Amanda of her father's death,  she seemed to be unaffected. Amanda had been raised by her mother and grandmother and had few memories of her father. Nevertheless, Amanda would inherit half a million dollars, with conditions.


Parental Alienation Syndrome, also called Malicious Mother Syndrome, came to the author's attention from his first-hand knowledge of seeing the impact of war on families and, in particular, on soldiers and their children. PAS develops when a "custodial parent is able to shape a child's world and scale her prism the way an optometrist measures eyesight and fits a pair of glasses."  (p. 93) Tata introduces this important issue through a concurrent drama as Amanda begins to follow the conditions in her father's will. Amanda had buried most memories of her father based upon the actions of her mother and grandmother.


Zach had met and fallen in love with a woman who fortunately was a psychologist. His Will required that Amanda have counseling sessions with her and that she also visit her former home, Zach's house. On the very first visit, Amanda began to learn about what had been done to her. She was shown an accounting that all money had been routinely sent to her mother, for instance, although Amanda had been often told she was not receiving those payments. When she visited her former home, documentation of fraud was revealed! Those buried memories quickly began to surface... 


But the home was burned immediately after Amanda had been called back home. And soon an attempt on the life of Riley, her psychologist and friend by that time, had been made! Slowly, Amanda begins to see that both her mother and grandmother has worked her entire life to discredit her father. 


Matt Garrett is never willing to accept that his brother is dead. As Assistant Director of CIA, he immediately moved to take over an investigation and, if necessary, take revenge on those who have killed his brother. But Zach had not been on that helicopter, he had been taken to Pakistan by Mullah Rahman, ADA the Scientist. It was the Scientist who discovered and acted on the misinformation. 


Soon the U.S. realized their bait had been taken. They were ready to act immediately!

With the recent announcement of the action against and death of Osama Bin Laden, I must say that having just read Hidden Threat gave added impact to what it took for our forces to have accomplished this momentous action. Frustration and anger overcome fear when brave men act on behalf of our country. A. J. Tata's insight and experience delivered in his stories provides readers with the opportunity to enter into the details, fear and frustration of military actions like the one that just occurred. Right now...I call this a must-read!

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