Review: SHAMAN FRIEND ENEMY by M. Terry Green

5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Techno Shaman series and it doesn't disappoint. Olivia (Livvy) Lawson is now the most famous shaman in Los Angeles--she's the lightening shaman. Along with a fellow shaman and friend, Min, and her dwarf intercessor, SK, many are clamoring for her services--to heal their fractured souls, to cast out evil ancestor spirits or to save them from themselves. The paparazzi follow her wherever she goes, but Livvy finds it hard to enjoy her new found success. She is harboring a terrible secret that she dares tell no one and it is leading her into dangerous territory within the spirit world. There are some things that are just forbidden even to the lightening shaman. As if that isn't enough, Livvy is faced with a deadly enemy intent on destroying her. Can the she prevail over this new threat? What will happen to Livvy if she stays on this dangerous path in the spirit world to do what is forbidden to do? And what of those she loves--will she risk everything and lose everyone dear to her?

Ms. Green does an expert job of pulling the reader in with non-stop action starting with the first chapter. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the characters in the story, but most especially, SK. His role has been expanded in this book and his interactions with Livvy will keep you glued to the story. Rounding out the story are Min, Mamacita, and of course, Livvy's newest enemy, Dominque. There are also more characters from the first book making appearances. Through all of the ups and downs that are thrown Livvy's way, she remains true to beliefs--she only wants to help others and nothing will stop her.

Though it is not necessary to read book 1 before picking up this one, I would highly recommend you start with "Shaman, Healer, Heretic" to enjoy the full flavor of the wonderful and engaging spirit world that Ms. Green has created. Recommended.

New #Paranormal Release: BRIDE OF FAE by LK Rigel

For those of you who have been waiting for the next book in the TETHERS series by LK Rigel, the wait is over. BRIDE OF FAE is now available to delight fans! The reviews are pouring in and LK Rigel has written another best-selling book. If you haven't read Book 1 in the series, GIVE ME, the buy icon is listed below. If you enjoyed the TV show, ONCE UPON A TIME, you'll love this series!

Book blurb:
A love more powerful than magic or time.

Beverly Bratton has a safe, mundane life. No drama. No magic. Since her parents died, she's cared for her little sister Marion and worked at the Tragic Fall Inn. When a fairy's charm sends Beverly a hundred years into the past-and into the path of a banished fairy prince-nothing will ever be mundane or safe again.

The regent of the Dumnos fae is turning the court from light to dark, and there's nothing the rightful king, Prince Dandelion, can do about it. The mystical coronation cup which he needs to become king has fallen into human hands. When he meets a human woman with access to the cup, everything changes. Beverly is fascinating as well as useful-but of course Dandelion doesn't love her.

Love for a fairy is rare. Love with a human, impossible. But when Beverly and Dandelion are thrown together in a battle against both wyrd and fae, they learn that in Dumnos the impossible happens every day.

Reviews:
5 stars: What a delight! L.K. Rigel continues to stretch her fairy wings in Bride of Fae. One of her many strengths is world-building, and she puts that skill into excellent play here. The result is a charming and lovely tale. - USA Today bestselling author Theresa Weir (Anne Fraiser)

Author bio:
L. K. Rigel lives in California with her television-watching cat, Coleridge. (His favorite show is Castle, but he is enthralled by Game of Thrones.) Rigel wrote songs for the 90's band The Elements, scored the independent science fantasy karate movie Lucid Dreams, and was a reporter for the Sacramento Rock 'N Roll News. Her work has appeared in Literary Mama and Tattoo Highway.

Rigel writes the postapocapunk "Apocalypto" series where human reproduction is threatened and fertile women rent their wombs to the highest bidding kings.

Her short story "Slurp" about an author with muse problems is included in DEADLY TREATS, Anne Frasier's Halloween anthology published by Nodin Press.

Amazon buy icon links:

Review: THE NINTH ORPHAN by James & Lance Morcan

4 of 5 stars

THE NINTH ORPHAN is a slick spy thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story revolves around a secret organization, The Omega Agency, that has raised a genetically-enhanced group of orphans. From the moment they could talk, the children have been trained in all aspects of being a spy/assassin. In this Pedemont Project, no one has a name; they are referred to as a number. Nine has been the best of the best for years doing whatever his superiors have told him, but there is a crack in his perfect veneer. He wants out and that means all out war against the Omega group.

In his desperate attempt to escape the clutches of this evil group, he involves the beautiful daughter of a French politician, Isabelle Alleget. She has inadvertently photographed him in a Paris marketplace.  There can be no record of him ever being there and now Nine is forced to deal with this unexpected development. And here is his conundrum--his cold and calculating mind cracks further and he cannot do what he needs to do.

The authors have done a good job of fleshing out Nine's character. He is the perfect chameleon changing disguises as easily as someone brushing their teeth although I did not find some parts believable that a ruthless assassin would cry--such a 180 degree turn in his personality didn't ring true for me. I would have also liked to be privy to the reason "why" Nine wanted out. What happened that tipped his hand after all these years? That would have helped me understand Nine's motivations better. However, despite this complaint, the story moves along like a bullet train of non-stop action.  Throw in a bit of romance, a sex-driven Chinese agent and a ruthless supervisor who wants to kill Nine and you've got an enjoyable read for fans of spy/thriller stories.

What's your favorite part of writing a novel?

A new thread was started over at Book Bazaar on Kindleboards and there was so many great responses that I wanted to post them over here too.

I'll start: my favorite part of writing a novel is getting a scene or chapter back from my co-author, Dave. We write in tandem and edit as we go along. It's funny how sometimes you have the whole chapter plotted out in your head, then I get Dave's next scene and it changes everything. I can't tell you how exciting and challenging it is to write with someone who is totally opposite of you. Dave keeps me from writing too much like a girl and I keep him from writing too much like a retired Marine...we have a great time together.

Sibel Hodge [who started the thread] says: My favourite things are creating characters and writing dialogue. Making up new people from endless possibilities, hearing their voices as I type, and actually seeing them in my head as I write - like watching a movie. The only downside to this is that sometimes the characters take over and literally have conversations with each other in your head. Even when you're trying to sleep!
The Fashion Police (Comedy Mystery) (Volume 1)

Mark Cotton says: I love creating the characters and finding out what they're going to do and say. Sometimes though, it's when that last piece of the plot's puzzle clicks into place and you realize you've got a story that works from beginning to end.

Kristen Tsetsi says: I loooove writing dialogue between two characters in a tense situation. Oh, so much fun.
Homefront (Volume 0)

Margaret Lake says: Finishing is the best. As for the nitty-gritty ... I love dialogue and conflict. I especially love when my characters begin to change and grow in new directions that I never envisioned.
Catherine and the Captain (Volume 1)

J Dean says: All of it. No matter how grueling or difficult it can be at times, the entire process is great.

David Dalglish says: Finishing a short story makes me feel happy about the whole "The End" but not my novels. However, considering I'm writing this stupidly long series, I don't really feel I've reached The End yet. Maybe it'll feel like that when I finally crank out the fifth book. Still, my endings are rarely, um, happy, so that probably hurts the whole feeling. My favorite is far and away having my characters interact. Having them argue, fight, even try to kill each other, all while I sit in the background curious as to what will happen. I rarely know how these things will turn out. I try to surprise myself, and sometimes a saying or argument will sway me when I didn't think it would. Velixar is especially fun for me. He plays the tempter, the intelligent evil, and his conversations with any character are so much fun.
The Weight of Blood (The Half-Orcs, Book 1)

Nancy C. Johnson says: I would have to say, all of the above, especially writing dialogue. That way I can get my three pages per day out of the way a whole lot faster... Just kidding. (Well, not entirely.) I do love writing dialogue. For me, and I'm sure for others, it's almost as if the characters take over. I have no say in it at all. Perhaps they are living in another dimension somewhere, and all I'm doing is tuning in. Anyway, that's how it feels. I dislike doing research, but it's a must for every book. But it usually ends up adding something a little special to the book which I didn't expect. Takes it in a new direction in some cases.
Her Last Letter

Maureen A Miller says: I generally like the twenty pages or so before THE END. Usually I'm building up to some climactic/confrontational scene and when I write that scene it's like I'm by myself at WallyWorld and strapping myself into a rollercoaster and pushing the GO button.
Widow's Tale

Camille LaGuire says: I love exploratory writing, just letting the characters take the bit in their mouths and run. Throwing different problems at them. Playing around. Plotting is similar and therefore also fun. Dialog writing, well yeah, even when you've got things planned out, characters have a way of improvising on you. I feel more pain pulling that stuff into a completed draft. (I hesitate to call it a "first" draft, since a lot of the material is on its second draft by that point.) But that can be a pleasure too - watching the pieces start working together, the timing, the foreshadowing, the misdirection. Then it gets fun again as I rewrite that sucker into perfection.
Have Gun, Will Play

John Fitch V says: I enjoy every aspect of the writing process: the concept stage, the outline/brainstorming, and then the writing. I love writing action scenes, so much to the point where I don't want to take a break while writing them; I keep them fast-paced and energetic, leaving the reader on the edge of their seats.
Turning Back The Clock

Edward C. Patterson says: My favorite moment is when I am alone with my characters and I get them all to myself and I see their potential and make decisions in their lives. That is . . . the moment of creation.
The Academician - Southern Swallow Book I

So what about you author friends, what is your favorite part?