Fool for Love by Merry Farmer @MerryFarmer20

Chapter Four

The Majestic rose up out of the water in its Liverpool dock with all the glory of its name.  Amelia held one hand to her hat and stared at its iron sides, its two dun-colored funnels and three tall masts.  The ship was a strange thing to her, a mixture of old and new, progress with hints of the past.  It had sails that could be unfurled in a pinch, but with its powerful new engines, the ship could cross the ocean in a week.

Seven days to a new world.  It was an exact description of everything her life had become.  It was every bit as daunting.

“What am I doing?” Amelia whispered, staring at the hopeful monstrosity in front of her.  It was one thing to accept an offer for a new life.  It was another thing entirely to go through with it.

She turned away from the ship, swallowing the nausea that had plagued her since she’d left her mother’s house.  This time it wasn’t morning sickness.  That was long past.  At the moment, the baby was the least of her worries.  Her stomach rolled over the idea that she was about to board a ship heading for a new life at the mercy of a stranger, a man, no less.  The last time she had trusted her life and her future to a man had been a disaster.

She paced, purse clutched to her chest, scanning the busy dock in search of her American savior.  Men, women, and children crowded the gangplanks, eager to start their journeys, excited and hopeful.  Many of the third-class passengers carried bundles that indicated theirs was a one-way trip as much as hers was.  Eric had left her there to go buy her ticket, but there was nothing stopping him from running off and leaving her stranded.  Like her father.  Like Nick.  She was a fool to agree to this.  She pivoted and marched away from the ship.

No, she stopped herself after a handful of steps, this was the best decision she could have made.  She may have felt small and lonely standing by herself, waiting, heart and stomach fluttering, but she was as much a part of the intrepid adventurers seeking a new life in America as any of her fellow passengers.  This was right.

Maybe.

“Well, we got a minor problem on our hands.”

The twang of Eric’s accent shocked Amelia from her worries.  She spun to face him as he approached her with wide strides, scratching his head and looking as guilty as a schoolboy.

“A problem?” she asked, voice fluttering.

“Yeah.  I went to buy you a ticket, but they’re plumb sold out.”

Amelia’s chest tightened and her tender stomach lurched.  “Oh.  Oh dear.  Well I suppose….”

She lowered her eyes, heart aquiver.  As quickly as it started, her chance for a new life was over.  All that worrying for nothing.

She squared her shoulders to face her fate.  “I … I thank you for your efforts on my behalf regardless, Mr. Quinlan.”

Eric’s brow crinkled into a curious frown.  “Regardless?”

“I suppose I could find work here in Liverpool,” she explained.  “Surely there must be a shop somewhere that would look the other way from….”  She lowered her hand to the mound of her stomach.

Eric’s lips twitched.  The morning sunlight caught in his eyes.  “I didn’t want to have to put you in third-class, so I told them you were my wife.”

Amelia blinked.  “You what?”

“I told them we’re newlyweds.  I reserved my stateroom in first class last year when I came over.  Good thing I paid for it then too, ‘cuz after this fiasco of a trip I’ll never ride first-class again.  Anyhow, when they said they didn’t have any more rooms, I told them you were my wife and that we would be staying in the same stateroom.  They sold me a ticket for that.”  He handed her a fresh, clean ticket with her name written as ‘Mrs. Amelia Quinlan’.  “Sorry.”

Amelia held perfectly still on the outside, but on the inside her heart pounded and her stomach rolled with guilt for questioning him.  He wasn’t abandoning her.  He had gone out of his way to help her.  Her heart squeezed as it never had before.  She took the ticket from him with a trembling hand, hardly noticing when her fingers brushed his.  She was rescued after all.

“Thank you, Mr. Quinlan.  You have no idea how much this kindness means to me.”  She had to concentrate on breathing, standing straight, and looking up into his handsome eyes with a smile to keep her tears at bay.

“You don’t mind sharing then?” he asked her.

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Genre – Western Historical Romance

Rating – R

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Website http://merryfarmer.net

Interview with Brandon Overall, #Author of Superhuman Nature

Tell us about your family?

-I’m not married, but my parents are still together and I have a brother who is 3 years younger than me that I am really close with.

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?

-Lap top at my desk.  I hate hand writing.  I am a fast typist, so keyboard is definitely the way to go for me.  It takes very little effort to get my thoughts out on paper because of how quick I type.

Where do you get support from? Do you have friends in the industry?

-So far I haven’t gotten support from anybody.

How much sleep do you need to be your best?

-I try to sleep around 8 hours a night.  I’ve been lifting weights once or twice a day, so I need that recovery time to build up muscle!  Plus my brain shuts down if I get anything less than 7 hours of sleep the previous night.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?

-I’d like to thank my Mom first and foremost for the hard work she put into helping me edit my novel, and my Dad for helping me bounce ideas off of him for plot lines.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?

-To me, I think meeting one stranger who has read your book means you have made enough of a following to say you are a success.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?

-Well to be honest I am too new to writing to know the best way to get readers to find my writing.  This is my first marketing attempt!

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

-My new book is called Superhuman Nature and it’s a story about a guy who acquires telekinetic powers.  The government finds out about it and wants to use him as a super weapon, but things don’t go according to plan.  I wrote it because it’s an idea I’ve always fantasized about and I would love to have a story revolve around the concept.  I think it’s a situation a lot of people would love to put themselves in and imagine what they would do.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?

-I love to lift weights, run, play video games, and surf the web

Do you have any tips on how writers can relax?

-Music without lyrics helps me the most.

Superhuman Nature is Brandon Overall's first novel. It was written and published during his first deployment to Afghanistan as a 2nd Lieutenant in late 2013.

Neil Hitchens was a senior ROTC Cadet in college. He was just weeks away from graduating and becoming an Officer in the United States Army, until a strange dream set off a chain of events that would twist his life into something he could have never prepared for.

In the days following his dream, several strange happenings occurred that he began to suspect were the result of his own actions. Before long, he discovered that he had the ability to control the world around him with his mind.

What started out as an unpredictable ability quickly evolved into an extraordinary power that had the capacity to change the world. It didn't take long for the government to find out what Neil could do.

They knew having such limitless potential on the side of the US Military could give them limitless political influence, and they would stop at nothing to get Neil to do their bidding. They would find out what happens when you back a dangerous animal into a corner.

Neil spent his whole life believing he would amount to greatness, but he never expected how greatness could corrupt even the most innocent of minds.

Buy @ Amazon & Smashwords

Genre – Science Fiction

Rating – PG-13

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Jesse James & the Secret Legend of Captain Coytus by Alex Mueck #Historical #Humor

Bob Younger, who was younger than the other Younger brothers, put both hands up. “You’re trying to tell us bedding a girl is more fun than whipping a Negro? How dumb do you think I am?”

“Did you ever meet the Swedish skier living in Booneville, Ingemar Skidmark?”

Bob’s eyes seemed to reverse, as if he was looking within himself. “No,” he finally said.

“Hey.” Little Archie scowled. “He’s the village idiot.”

The Captain shrugged.

Jesse James clapped his hands. “I’ll tell you what’s better than sex. Gold. When you’re rich, you can have all the women you want.” He cast a friendly and charming smile at the Captain, who was torn between hatred and smiling back.

Edwards refilled his plate and said proudly, “Remember, the gold is for our future, the Knights of the Golden Circle.”

The Captain squinted at him. “Can we vote on a name change? This Golden Circle doesn’t sit well with me. I had a few thoughts. How about A.S.S.E.S? Alliance of Southern Sons Equals Success.” His face gleamed with pride.

“I don’t think so,” Edwards muttered.

“S.S.S. The Southern Stud Service?”

Edwards shook his head.

The Captain nodded. “True. Not with this crowd.”

He chewed as he spoke. “The Knights of the Golden Circle is a fine name.”

“I disagree. You’re not knights, for starters.”

Edwards’s face flushed like he’d never considered such. He composed himself and said, “At the top of the command, there are rituals that foster knighthood.”

“Until I see a sword and shield, I’m calling that bogus.” The Captain dismissed him with a wave of his hand. “And why a golden circle instead of silver square?”

Edwards dropped his fork and bit his lip in thought.

The Captain filled the void. “The Pseudo-Knights of the Red Rhombus would make a welcome change.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Tangerine Triangle?”

Frank James snapped his fingers. “I like that!”

"“A historical fiction comedy that packs
as much heart as humor.”
—Michael Dadich, award-winning author of The Silver Sphere

When a Harvard history professor receives a thesis paper titled Jesse James and the Secret Legend of Captain Coytus, from Ulysses Hercules Baxter—an underwhelming student—he assumes the paper must be a prank. He has never read such maniacal balderdash in his life. But after he calls a meeting with the student, Professor Gladstone is dismayed when Baxter declares the work is his own. As he takes a very unwilling Professor Gladstone back in time via his thesis, Baxter’s grade hangs in the balance as he attempts to prove his theory.

It is 1864 as philanderer and crusader Captain Coytus embarks on a mission to avenge his father’s death and infiltrates the Confederate Bushwacker posse looking for the man responsible, Jesse Woodson James. Accompanied by the woman of his dreams, Coytus soon finds himself temporarily appointed to be the sheriff of Booneville and commissions his less-than-loyal deputy to help him carry out his plan.

But when tragedy strikes, the Captain is forced to change his immature ways and redefine his lofty mission—more or less."

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Genre - Humor, Historical Fiction

Rating – R

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#Author Bryan Taylor & the Three Sisters from His #Novel (#AmReading)

How has your upbringing influenced your writing?

Absolutely.  My dad was a preacher, and both my grandparents were preachers, and my grandmother wanted me to preach.  I rebelled against that and without that rebellion, my novel, The Three Sisters, would never have been written.  Also, my dad always encouraged me to excel and do my best and that helped me to achieve what I have done as well.

When and why did you begin writing?

My novel started as a serial I did back in college. A friend of mine gave me some pictures of nuns.  I turned one into a Wanted Poster, and the second into a story about nuns kidnapping an elderly couple.  I put them up outside my dorm room, and then people wanted to know what was going to happen next, so I started putting up more episodes and that provided the plot for The Three Sisters.  I wrote the novel while I was in graduate school, but since I didn’t find a publisher, I waited until self-publishing made it possible to provide the book to the mass market without having a mainstream publisher.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Satire and humor.  I love to make people laugh and love making fun of people who take themselves seriously.  Satire lends itself to doing this, and it gives you freedom to do things you wouldn’t be able to do in “normal” fiction.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My novel started as a serial I did back in college. A friend of mine gave me some pictures of nuns.  I turned one into a Wanted Poster, and the second into a story about nuns kidnapping an elderly couple.  I put them up outside my dorm room, and then people wanted to know what was going to happen next, so I started putting up more episodes and that provided the plot for The Three Sisters.  I wrote the novel while I was in graduate school.

How did you come up with the title?

The novel is about three nuns, so The Three Sisters seemed a natural, simple title.

Can you tell us about your main character?

There are actually three main characters since the book is about three former nuns who get in trouble with the law.  Coito Gott is the rebel who had religion shoved down her throat and rebels against her background.  She is the most sacrilegious of the three and also the wittiest and most incisive.  Theodora Suora is the opposite of Coito Gott and always wants to do the right thing.  She is risk-averse, intellectual, and loves Shakespeare and Bach.  She is organized while Coito loves anarchy. Theodora grounds Coito, and though Coito would never admit it, she needs Theodora to keep Coito from spinning out of control.  Regina is the most fun-loving of the three.  She had a close brush with death when she was a nun, so she wants to live life to the fullest.  She enjoys the exoteric while Theodora loves the esoteric.  She is a big fan of popular music, old movies, or anything having to do with popular culture.

How did you develop your plot and characters?

I first published two stories about nuns, a Wanted Poster and a story about three nuns kidnapping an elderly couple from photos a friend had given to me.  After I put these up outside my dorm room in college, people asked what was going to happen next.  I began “publishing” a new episode each week and this gradually laid down the plot of the novel, The Three Sisters.  In some cases I didn’t know what was going to happen next, but something always came to me.  It must have been divine inspiration.

There were three nuns in the original photo, hence The Three Sisters.  I differentiated them by endowing each with some aspects of my own personality, the rebel, the intellectual, and the lover of popular culture of the past.

Who designed the cover?

I conceptualized the cover.  The book takes place in Washington D.C. with three nuns, so I was able to put all those elements into the cover.  They walk on water and have sexy habits so the sacrilegious part is illustrated there.  Moreover, if you look, the clouds around the Washington Monument form a cross.  I had a great illustrator, Brent Schreiber, who was able to convert my concept into reality.

Who is your publisher?

My publisher is Dragon Tree Books. I had contacted Erica Orloff to edit my book, and she also provided a publishing service. We worked well together on the editing of the book, so I decided she would be a natural to help get the book published.  She was very supportive of my ideas and my book in ways I think would have been difficult to achieve through a mainstream publisher, and I appreciated that.

Why did you choose to write this particular book?

I had put together the plot of the novel in college through a serial I wrote.  This gave me the plot and the characters, so the foundations of the novel were laid.  I just didn’t realize it would be 35 years before it would actually be published.

Nuns just want to have fun! But when three former Catholic nuns have too much fun and get in trouble with the law, they become nuns on the run.

Driving back to Washington D.C. where they work at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Parts, the three sisters are arrested in Tennessee. After defeating the local deputy in strip poker, they escape from jail, and are pursued by the zealous Detective Schmuck Hole, who has personally offered a $10,000 reward for their capture on The 700 Club. Little do they know that when the three sisters visit the Washington Monument, their lives will change forever.

Set in 1979, The Three Sisters is a sacrilegious satire that skewers not only organized religion, but the government, the media, intellectuals, corporate greed and every other part of the establishment. Maybe not the greatest story ever told, but possibly the funniest.

Buy @ Amazon

Genre – Humor, Satire, Catholicism, Politics

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with Bryan Taylor on Facebook

Website www.threesistersnovel.com

Birth of an Assassin by Rik Stone @stone_rik

Chapter 42

Jez let his mind dwell on the ceiling’s dull paint rather than think about his recent nightmares. But those thoughts wouldn’t stay down: whatever happened, he would achieve justice for Viktor.

Anna came out of the bathroom, hair wrapped in a towel, turban style. “We still have time to travel south,” she said. He sighed. She looked desperate again. “Please think about it. I promise this isn’t a test. No tricks. I’m telling you what’s in my heart, and I think we should run.”

Vertical tracks forged between his eyebrows. “We’ve already been through this, Anna. I do trust you, but I’ve made my decision.”

“But I don’t think you’ve thought it out properly. From what I can see, Mitrokhin has high-ranking contacts everywhere and I don’t think even Petrichova can save you. The captain has the guile of a fox and his cunning outwits us all. Please, Jez,” she implored, “go with me now.”

He got off the bed and embraced her. “I don’t know why you’ve become so worried. I’d never imagined you like this, but whether what you say is true or not, I won’t run. I must win justice for Viktor – and for me, come to that. Viktor has been murdered and I’ve been set up to look like his killer.”

Anna wept against his chest, and he couldn’t figure why. Of what he knew about her, it was totally out of character.

“I want you to remember this,” she sobbed. “And I’m speaking from the heart. No matter what happens, this is what is real and this is the memory I want you to hold onto. I love you, Jez, I love you.”

Baffled, he realized that having a real relationship with a woman was an enigma. Her declaration seemed distressed rather than tender. The only way he could think of handling this was to let it go straight over his head.

“And I love you, Anna, but I must go back.”

*

Outside the hotel the snow lay thick, and despite the best efforts of a heavy blanket of cloud, the cold had worked its way through.

“I’m glad I packed the ski jacket. Cold or not, this suitcase has me overheating. I know you’ve put my stuff in with yours, but what a weight.”

“Just girl things,” she smiled, and stepped out ahead.

“That’s right, don’t wait for me. Oh…” he said, almost stopping, “I forgot to pay for my lodgings at the hotel.”

She turned and raised an eyebrow. He grinned.

“You’re right, all the troubles I’ve got and I should worry about paying for a room. I’ll let the state sort it out.”

She laughed.

They trudged through the snow until they came to Railway Station Square – part of Stalin’s rebuild of the city. Anna wore the same azure coat with fur trimmings and fur hat as on the second day of their reunion, and he wondered how such a beautiful woman could really be interested in him.

“You look like a film star dressed like that, but aren’t you worried someone might be following?”

She tutted. “You seem to be worrying enough for both of us.”

She was so avant-garde, maybe she hadn’t carried out as many missions as she’d suggested. “Oh well, nearly there,” he said.

She smiled sadly.

He stopped to cross an avenue near a trolley rank. Six or seven people queued closely together, ankle-deep in snow, exhaling frosted breath as they waited for their ride. At last, a lull in the traffic. Anna went ahead. Jez kept a half metre behind, but something jarred his senses. Above the din of the city an explosion rang out. He turned to the direction of the noise and then looked at Anna. A hole had opened and blossomed in the back of her coat. His heart seemed to stop beating. She’d been shot and he couldn’t move. The force of the bullet had arched her back. She spun to face him, stumbled, eyes widened in shock.

The crowd at the trolley rank scattered in panic and shrill screams pierced his ears. But still, he couldn’t move – Anna.

Buy Now @ Amazon, B&N, Kobo & Waterstones

Genre - Thriller, Crime, Suspense

Rating – R

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Website http://rik-stone.simdif.com

Lethal Journey by Kim Cresswell @kimcresswell

Chapter Three

Detective Eric Brennan sat at his usual table and sipped the night’s beverage of choice—a cola. In Chunkers Bar and Grill loud pointless chatter overpowered the ‘80s rock and roll band on stage.

The last week was a blur. Every waking hour he pounded the streets in search of his father’s killer.

Eric knew every detail of the shooters face, but not the kid’s name. He’d heard from one of his informant’s, the kid was a young tough-guy looking to be made—a “cugine” ready to make his mark into New York’s most influential crime network, the Valdina family. As part of his induction into the mob family, the asshole had already killed a low-life rival family member and Eric and his father were working the homicide case when they got a tip.

That steamy June evening had started like any typical bust. Within minutes after Eric and his father arrived at the warehouse, dozens of DEA agents secured the perimeter. Eric entered the warehouse first, his father followed. Amid the stench of mildew and dust, the first pop of an automatic echoed within the barren walls.

They were ambushed.

His father, a veteran with twenty-three years on the force never saw the shots coming. Eric threw his body against his father in hopes of shielding him. It was too late. Instead Eric witnessed his father’s face, the sickening whitish blue tint that came with death...

While Pete checked in with the precinct, Eric shifted in the chair. His left knee still burned where the bullet had grazed his leg. He rubbed the scar, a permanent reminder of a drug bust gone bad. Very bad.

“Hey, Brennan.” Pete threw a twenty-dollar bill on the table and downed the last swallow of his beer. “Come on. I think we got a lead.”

Outside on West 35th Street, a full moon peeked through the clouds. Jagged streaks of lightning ignited the sky as rain sprinkled against Eric’s leather jacket. He lit a cigarette and leaned against his white pick-up truck parked in front of Chunkers.

Pete smirked. “Man, I thought you quit.”

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Genre – Thriller

Rating – PG-18

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Website http://kimberleycresswell.wordpress.com/

Quality Reads UK Book Club Disclosure: Author interview / guest post has been submitted by the author and previously used on other sites.

#Author Joshua Silverman & Researching Greek Mythology @jg_silverman #fantasy #mustread

Tell us about your new book? What’s it about and why did you write it?

The Soul of the World is the second book of the Legends of Amun Ra universe. It continues where book one, The Emerald Tablet, left off. Soul is about Leoros’ struggling to deal with his emotions after the end of The Emerald Tablet. It’s also about the other survivors, who must face the consequences of their actions.

How much research was involved on Ancient Greece and Egyptian Mythology?

Tons. I've always read a lot of history, given that it has been a huge hobby of mine. But I became much more involved when I started writing the series. You have a certain amount of freedom as a writer, but that doesn't mean you can write whatever you want. It has to make sense for not just the story itself, but the world you are creating. I probably ended up reading about 20 books or more for research. I use about 3-5 consistently for reference. Those 5 books are right next to my bed at all times full of notes, highlights, and page markers.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?

I kind of joke that if you can’t write a novel, then you shouldn’t be an author (assuming you want to write for a profession and not a hobby). To me, the writing is the easiest part – it only gets more difficult from there. Getting a publisher is ten times harder than writing your manuscript. Selling your book is ten times harder still. One only needs to go to a used bookstore to see how many authors got published but failed to sell. You don’t see the best books on used bookshelves.

What marketing works for you?

Facebook and conventions. I meet so many people at shows that the face-to-face interaction is invaluable.

How do you feel about social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter? Are they a good thing?

Personally I don’t think Twitter is all it’s cracked up to be. It’s become a ‘follow me and I’ll follow you’ platform where authors spam their books more than convey meaningful information.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?

We do a fair amount of social media. I’ve done TV and radio interviews. But, because we’re in science-fiction and fantasy genre, I go to a lot of comic book conventions (even though a lot of them don’t read non-illustrated books by definition).

How often do you write? And when do you write?

I aim for 1,000 words per day. But sometimes, with a busy schedule and lots of traveling, I don’t always hit that quota. So I have a 1,000 words per day or 7,000 words per week rule. If I miss a day (or four), I have to make up those words on the weekend.

How did you develop your writing?

As uncomplicated as it sounds, I read a lot and I wrote a lot. That’s the only real way to do it.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Mostly historical events or myths.

Have you met any people in the industry who have really helped you?

Yes, tons of people. Networking is very important. Sometimes, the best information is a closely guarded secret and you have to know the right people to find the right deals.

How do you think people perceive writers?

Probably that we lounge around all day in our pajamas when really we’re stressing over not having a clever enough idea, writer’s block, or even finding time to write in the first place.

How do you feel about self-publishing?

I think for the most part, self-published authors tend to sacrifice quality for cost. They don’t think spending a few thousand dollars on a good editor is worth it, hoping their friend, who was an English major, is good enough. Or they buy stock photo images for their book covers instead of something custom. It’s one of the reasons self-published authors rarely make more than $500 a year by selling their books. On the other hand, if you want to publish your book just to say you’ve published something and not try to make it a career or business, then self-publishing is a great, cost effective way to accomplish that.

The ancient powers lost to Potara have returned. The Brotherhood of the Black Rose rises to bring Thoth into disorder. And, while the Brotherhood reclaims their power, chaos reigns among the survivors. Six individuals have emerged from the aftermath struggling for control over their lives and a divided land. Kem and Shirin, who abolished the five thousand year reign of the Amun Priests, rule from the golden throne of the Oracle’s Chair in the Hall of the Nine. Dio and Axios struggle to piece together a resistance worthy to challenge the ancient magic which resides in the Great Temple of Amun, and Leoros and Atlantia try to remain true to their hearts and their cause despite tragedy.

But when the Book of Breathings is discovered, the path to immortality is revealed. Leoros and Kem race to capture the Soul of the World unaware of the challenges awaiting them. This time, the gods themselves will intervene.

In a tale where boys become men and girls become women, where treachery and deception are around every corner, and where primeval mysticism finds its way back from the grave, victory is reserved for neither the good nor the evil, but the powerful.

Buy Here

Genre – Science fiction, Fantasy

Rating – PG-13+

More details about the author

Connect with Joshua Silverman on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.legendsofamunra.com; www.joshuagsilverman.com

Promised Land: A Galatia Novel (The Galatia #Series) by C. D. Verhoff @CDVerhoff #scifi #bookclub

The last survivors of the human race are riding out nuclear winter in an underground bunker when disaster strikes. Forced to the surface centuries ahead of schedule, what they find blows their minds. Who can explain it? Two social misfits work together to unravel the mystery.

After living in a posh underground shelter his entire life, Lars Steelsun is plunged headfirst into a mind-blowing adventure on the surface of the Earth. As Lars and his displaced bunker mates are led across the grasslands by Mayor Wakeland, a man of questionable sanity who claims to talk with God, they discover a primitive world where human beings are no longer welcome. Even more mystifying is the emergence of new senses and abilities from within. 

Learning to use them has become a priority, but his biggest challenge comes from the vivacious Josie Albright. Her lust for glory is going to get them both into trouble. Sparks fly when her gung ho ways clash with his cautious personality. Can they overcome their differences to find love and a homeland for their people?

May not be suitable for younger readers. 

Contains mild profanity, sexual situations (infrequent), and violence. 

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Epic Fantasy

Rating – R

More details about the author

Connect with C. D. Verhoff on Facebook & Twitter

Blog http://cdverhoff.blogspot.com/

Riddle Of The Diamond Dove (Arkana Mysteries #4) by N. S. Wikarski #Historical #BookClub

THE ARKANA SERIES: Where Alternative History Meets Archaeology Adventure
Volume Four - Riddle Of The Diamond Dove

"From Kindle Nation fave N. S. Wikarski comes the long-awaited fourth book in her fascinating seven-part Arkana archaeology thriller series -- with more of the wonderful characters, sly humor, intrigue and mayhem that come together to create the absorbing world of her intricate, fast-paced mysteries." (Kindle Nation Daily)

Global Treasure Hunt
Where do you hide an ancient relic that has the power to change the course of history? As Cassie Forsythe and her Arkana team discover, you scatter clues to its whereabouts across the entire planet. Five artifacts buried among the rubble of lost civilizations point to the hiding place of a mythical object known as the Sage Stone. Thus far psychic Cassie, bodyguard Erik, and librarian Griffin have succeeded in recovering two of those artifacts.

Opposing Forces
Cassie and Company find their lives threatened at every turn by agents of a religious cult known as the Blessed Nephilim. The cult's leader, Abraham Metcalf, wants to exploit the power of the Sage Stone to unleash a catastrophic plague on the world. The quest for the next piece of the puzzle has led both sides to Africa. They must comb an entire continent--their only lead a riddle carved onto a mysterious dove sculpture. Even as the Arkana team struggles to decipher the clue, new dangers hover over their colleagues at home.

Other Dangers
Metcalf's child-bride Hannah has taken refuge at the home of the Arkana's leader Faye while mercenary Leroy Hunt creeps ever nearer to her hiding place. His search for the girl brings him dangerously close to the secret location of the Arkana's troves--a collection of pre-patriarchal artifacts which confirm an alternative history of the origins of civilization itself. While Hunt closes in on Hannah, Metcalf's son Daniel dogs the footsteps of the Arkana field team in order to claim the next artifact before they do. Daniel recruits a clever ally along the way who might be more than a match for the opposing side.

Collision Course
When the forces of the Arkana and the Nephilim converge on a ruined city in a forgotten corner of the dark continent, the shocking outcome is beyond even Cassie's powers to foresee. The quest for the Sage Stone will veer in an unexpected direction once both sides solve the Riddle Of The Diamond Dove.

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Genre - Alternative History Fiction

Rating – PG

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