Chilling. Dark. Realistic. I'm not usually a reader of dark Horror, but man did I enjoy this read! Melissa Simoson clearly has a strong grasp on character depth and plot creation. As I read I became involved with the mind of Cameron as she was trapped in the torture cell-like basement, and struck by what occurs there, the barbed wire puncturing her skin where she sits against the basement wall and the sheer horror of all that she experiences in the farm house at the hands of Sam. I found myself caring deeply for her, her twin Amy, the FBI detective and Colin, a young man who is chained up in the basement/dungeon with her.

The way the bodies are disposed of... perfect and haunting.

This is a dark horror to the core. Its depth of plot was like a NY Strip Steak for me, and the experiences the main characters go through were the razor blades embedded in its meat.

I'll be reading Simonson's newest release, Blood Echo, very soon, and eagerly awaiting the rest of her works to come. You want to read this book. You will sleep with one eye open and be rapt all the way to the final page.

- Scott J. Toney

The pitch for Simson's debut Thriller/Horror novel, Doubles

Cameron is twenty-one and drunk when she's abducted after a homecoming party. She doesn't know where she is, why this has happened to her, or anything about her new cellmate, Colin. She has time to figure it all out though—nothing but time.

Amy, Cameron's twin, doesn't think much of her sister's disappearance. She's got her own life to contend with. Since Cam has gone missing, Amy's been the glue holding her family together, but she's not bulletproof, and she can't shake the feeling that she's being watched.

Sam has too much anger, a penchant for blondes, and a fondness for voyeurism and electromagnetic shock. He's good at hiding—not even his wife knows he's a monster dressed in janitor's clothing. Maybe that's why he's gotten away with his dark desires for so long.

Follow the link below to Amazon's Kindle store to delve into this addicting read.

http://www.amazon.com/Doubles-ebook/dp/B00BK7UE5I/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Mary Fan, the author of the sci-fi novel Artificial Absolutes, has posted her review of The Beholder today!

Here is what she says about the book:

"In present day New York, Jason, an ordinary man with an office job at an  interior design firm, learns that his nightmares are more than just bad  dreams. In them, he sees a man of great evil, Pariah, pursuing a young  woman with amber eyes. Both disturbed and intrigued, he soon finds out  that the dreams are in fact supernatural visions, a glimpse into a  supernatural world of light and dark energies.

Meanwhile, Jason  hears reports of people around the world dying under mysterious  circumstances. Each body is left branded with an arcane symbol. After  realizing the bodies are a riddle addressed to him, Jason
encounters the  amber-eyed woman, Emily, who tells him that he possesses dormant abilities of great power. In addition, he may be the only person who can  keep darkness from enslaving the world.

The Beholder is an  imaginative urban fantasy that takes a reader into a captivating world  of magic and mystery.
Amberlake weaves his world in vibrant images,  wrapping each scene in colorful descriptions that make the story easy to  visualize. The reader follows Jason as this world is slowly revealed to  him. The supernatural elements, such as Sight and Soulfusion, are well  explained, as the reader learns what Jason learns. 

There’s an  ebb and flow to the pace of The Beholder, which works well for its story  line. It draws you in by setting up the mystery at the very beginning,  then slows down to let you look around. The action scenes, each a  vividly portrayed fight between good and evil, are exciting and  thrilling, and it’s easy to get lost in the language. Jason is a likable  protagonist who’s easy to sympathize with, especially since Amberlake  lays out his internal thoughts, allowing the reader to see what he sees,  feel what he feels. Some chapters are written from the perspectives of  other characters, giving the reader a 360 degree view of the story.

While  the plot of The Beholder focuses on the supernatural battle between  good and evil, Amberlake highlights the human element of the struggle  through his characterizations and relationships. As Jason follows Emily  into the realm of the Sighted, he also finds himself falling for her,  which adds an element of romance to the story. It also ups the personal  stakes for Jason as he heads toward the book’s climatic battle. In  addition, Jason’s close friends, Matt and Debbie, end up getting  involved, and so by the end, Jason is fighting not only for humanity, but for those he cares about most.

Amberlake writes with a poetic lilt, bringing his story to life through intricate language. For  instance, here’s a description from early in the book:

“[Jason]  burst through the revolving doors and into the outdoors, and ran into a  nearly solid wall of heat. Even in the shade of the skyscrapers, he  found it difficult to breathe. He paced, restless. Needing to walk off  some of his anger, he thrust his hands in his pockets, then started  roaming the streets, weaving through the rush hour crowd.”

Well  written and wonderfully inventive, The Beholder is a highly entertaining  book and a relatively fast read. The supernatural concept at the center  of the story is unique, intriguing, and leaves you wanting more."

I'm truly humbled by this amazing review! Thank you so
much, Mary! - Ivan Amberlake

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/581995640

http://amzn.com/B00B7TG2DC

Follow the link below to Mary Fan's Blog.

http://zigzagtl.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-beholder-ivan-amberlake_14.html

Limerence is a cognitive and emotional state of being infatuated or obsessed with another person, it is typically experienced involuntarily and is characterized by a strong desire for the reciprocation of one’s feelings.  The term was coined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov, to describe the ultimate near obsessive form of romantic love. Limerence is sometimes also referred to as infatuation or is colloquially known as a crush, but in reality it is something much more different. In common speech infatuation includes aspects of immaturity and extrapolation from insufficient information and is usually short lived. 

It can be experienced as either intense joy or intense despair depending on whether the feelings are reciprocated or not. 
 
Limerence is characterized by intrusive thinking and pronounced sensitivity to external events that reflect the disposition of the limerent object towards the individual. It is the state of being completely carried away by unreasoned passion or love. Usually one is inspired with an intense passion or admiration for someone.

Limerence can be difficult to understand for those who have never experienced it, and it is thus often dismissed by non limerants as ridiculous fantasy or a construct of romantic fiction. A person experiencing Limerence has a general intensity of feeling that leaves other concerns in the background. In their thoughts, a limerent person tends to emphasize what is admirable in the limerent object and to avoid any negative or problematic attributes.

One man's obsession is so deadly it could destroy them all.

Despite her love for her fiancé, Mia Lawrence finds herself inexplicably drawn to Mr Breckt- the mysterious new owner of the Island. Her thoughts are constantly consumed with the handsome and powerful stranger. However, there is much more to him than she realises, something dangerous and supernatural.

Mr Breckt is used to getting what he wants, and now he wants Mia, at any cost. With his obsession spiralling out of control, he knows that time is running out. A war is coming. Blood will be shed, and lives will be lost, but he will have to rid himself of his obsession of Mia before it’s too late.

Mia and Oliver must now fight the very evil that threatens to come between them. If either of them fails, it will be more than their love for each other that will be lost.

Ultimately, all three will have to make a sacrifice that will change each other’s destiny forever.
But will it be the right one?

For a closer look at Limerence follow one of the links below.

Amazon.com USA

http://www.amazon.com/Limerence-Claire-C-Riley/dp/1482727668/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1364318634&sr=8-15&keywords=limerence

Amazon.com UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Limerence-Claire-C-Riley/dp/1482727668/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1364319178&sr=8-11 

After ranking in the "Top 100 Most Popular Amazon Kindle Authors" in Sci-Fi, from December 2012 through March 2013, Mike Lee is releasing his chart topping Military Sci-Fi book, StarFire, in paperback!

An action-packed Science Fiction novel,

Captain Vince Lombard, G-Marine company commander, is tasked with tracking down a stray ship. The Alliance Military Ship StarFire has gone silent, and previous attempts to locate her have resulted in the loss of more ships. After two previous wars with xenospecies humanity bumped into while expanding into space, no one knows what might be the cause of StarFire's missing in action status. And  internal politics between Fleet command and the Galactic Marine Corps might mean  that, unless something is done, humanity may get the news it's at war with yet  another new race about the time they show up to attack one of the human systems  in the sector.

A prequel to the book "Fey," this story is a novelization  of the story Vince related to Blondie in the previous book, which many readers requested.

What others are saying about StarFire

"Mike Lee has written yet another solid fast-reading book that grabs your attention and keeps it engaged until the satisfying conclusion. I will be reading this one again and can't wait for the next Mike Lee book."

—  Amazon review by 'Far Left Texas'

"Starfire is a truly superb book, one of the few of the hundreds I've read this year that stands out by itself. Beautifully crafted, very good cadence, great reflection by the main hero, who does not always occupy center stage. Lots of mystery left to ponder, this author does not insult the intelligence of the reader but compliments it - and that is rare. The characters are well developed according to their roles and aren't just mirrors for the main character. The plot is plausible and not drowned in technology while being quite comfortable with it."

— Dennis Campbell

Purchase StarFire in Paperback or for Kindle now at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/StarFire-Vince-Lombard-Mike-Lee/dp/0615784801/ref=sr_1_4_title_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365621420&sr=1-4&keywords=starfire
 

Breakwater Harbor Books is excited to announce the release of Scott J. Toney's second Audiobook, Eden Legacy! Amy Gramour voiced the book and is an amazing talent! Go take a listen at Amazon.com. It’s worth the time, even if you don't have a way to purchase audiobooks. Amy is phenomenal!

Thomas, the young King of Havilah, is drawn to a forest beyond his lands. Here he discovers seven figs, fruit from the long forgotten Eden.

In the land of Cush, Princess Lilya suffers under the rule of her father, until the day when young King Thomas of Havilah invites her away to his lands. There, she hopes to find peace she has never known.

But Thomas has been drawn to a foreign land, to figs he hopes are from Eden and the Tree of Life. When he eats them to heal his wounds things change within him, distorting him in ways he could not predict.

Now Lilya must make a decision. Does she stand by Thomas's side or act to dispel the evil consuming his soul?

Amidst this world Lilya has befriended a dragon. There are secrets within the beast that could determine all their fates.

What others are saying about Eden Legacy

"...utterly believable and yet simultaneously fantastical! This is not unlike the styling of C.S. Lewis. It is an epic, fantasy tale that will hit home with all readers, and when the last page is reached, leave them with a thirst looking for more of Scott J. Toney's writings!"
 
- Laura A. Diaz, author of Come What May

"I love the way the author tells this story with ties into the old testament story of Eden and how man stumbled and fell. All of Scott's books have really imaginative plots, and this one is no exception. You can feel all the emotions of the characters. Generocity, greed, love, hate, elation and misery. Great read."

- Dave, reviewer on Amazon.com

Check out Eden Legacy in audiobook format now at Amazon.com!

http://www.amazon.com/Eden-Legacy/dp/B00C7Z6DCA/ref=tmm_aud_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1365439178&sr=1-2

Often times I find that poetry inspires my works. Years ago I wrote a poetry book called Dusk Crescence. It was a poetry diary from the minds of different fantasy characters, and as I have decided on topics to write about with my novels I’ve looked back to the poems in that book for inspiration. 

Evanshade, from The Ark of Humanity, was the first character in my novels that came about in this way. The poem below is what inspired his character. I hope you enjoy!

The poem that inspired Evanshade from The Ark of Humanity...



Cnmohehko

 

Beneath distanced mists strewn Kisper Pond

cool ocean’s water’s blends

valiant currents drift across sloped coral floors

light waverings

illuminated within

amongst columned light

staunch merman floats

silhouetted,

dampened,

cleansed

light waverings across his body’s form

two lips light blue with frost

kelp waters lost

single swaying form

liquid touches and is tossed

thrashed out upon the coral reef

seaweed dressing shores

brought back again in waves

of liquid velvet

calming warmth

silver fish swimming around whispered merman's form

light reflectant fin

glittering off light greens and blues

upon aqua water’s winds

the melody of a flute

plateau on the ocean floor

maiden in the sky

lost in between there lies the depths

two sauntering onward eyes

shoulders lined with seaweed straps

an engraving on the arm

chains bared upon the ocean floor

destiny disarmed

liquid eyes

staring through the depths

a warrior

for time.


And here is the first chapter of The Ark of Humanity, as a little teaser to the book.


1

The Escaped Scroll

Between Sangfoul and Baneal

In the depths beneath the sea

Darkness and oceanic starlight shimmered around him as Evanshade pursued the youth he had been sent after through the ocean depths. His heart pulsed strongly in his chest and his thick tailfin beat heavily behind him. Where are you, boy? Then, with a glance, he saw movement on the dark horizon.

“Halt! Surrender and you will not be harmed!” he called out. It was a lie, but would the lie produce his prey? No, the boy continued away from him in the distance. With a pump of his tailfin Evanshade burst forward, hugging close to the ocean floor as fish swam up, curling around his body in startled fear. Now that the youth was in his sight he would close on him quickly.

He didn’t want to kill, but this boy carried secrets, secrets he had stolen from Sangfoul. They told of things that were soon to come and Evanshade could not let those secrets get out, not if he treasured his own life and wanted to keep it. He was a leader in Sanfoul’s forces and the dark lord would never let him survive if this information escaped.

Water curled around him.

With another pulse from his fin he neared the boy, lifting his trident upward and driving it down into the legged boy’s back, crushing his body to the sand below and pinning him there. Crack! The sound of the boy’s spine breaking beneath his trident’s force echoed through the depths.

“Ach…c…c…” The youth’s body convulsed as globules of blood spewed forth from where the trident pierced him.

Evanshade felt bile rising in his throat but swallowed it down. “It is how things must be,” he told the dying boy as the youth’s fingers scratched at the ocean floor below him. “And there is much more to come, not for you, but for the others. I cannot stop it. I am trapped in this as much as your people and the people of Meridia are destined for their fates.”

He drew a dagger from a whale-leather sheath on his side and drove it through the youth’s back and into his heart, taking what remained of life from him. Then he withdrew the dagger and brought it to the dead boy’s finger, pressing down against it and severing it from his hand. This will prove your death, he thought. How many lives are traded for me to live? How many lives am I worth?

Evanshade tucked the bloody finger in a pouch at his side, sheathed the dagger and, while holding the dead body firm under his fin’s weight, hefted his trident out of its back.

With a turn and a pulse of his fin Evanshade disappeared in the starlit darkness of the ocean once more.

*

From beneath the boy’s body a small kelp scroll was carried out by the currents, moving onward in a journey its messenger would never make.

Later the boy’s father, a leader of Baneal, would discover it and then his son. He would cry tears into the water as blood permeated around him.

And a link to a free copy in case you'd like to read on ;)

http://www.amazon.com/The-Ark-of-Humanity-ebook/dp/B008O7O8UE/ref=sr_1_2_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1364914039&sr=8-2&keywords=scott+toney