Lodestone: Witch-Hunt

Link for: Excerpt of Review by Author Aoife Marie Sheridan

Contains mature themes. 100+reviews Amazon US 4.4*

Scott has a natural flair that lends itself well to this popular genre. Sure to win her a host of enthusiastic followers, Lodestone certainly bodes well for future releases in the Witch-Hunt series and is highly recommended. ~ Review on bookviral.com

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Book Description: Two tales entwine. Sabrina is thrust out of her sheltered life at Mistress Florisah’s healing school after the destruction of the witch-ancestor portraits and the appearance of Lauren the Destroyer’s ghost. An anti-witchcraft regime is poised on Karthalon’s borders threatening full scale genocide, unless Sabrina, the last of Lauren’s bloodline, can destroy the Lodestone and restore magic to Valloaria.

Hundreds of years before Lauren had wrought the cataclysmic demise of the Council of Witches by unleashing the Lodestone and now Sabrina is the only one who can undo Lauren’s legacy. Sabrina struggles to accept this suicide mission and is distracted by her inappropriate affection for Micah, a prospect monk. Lauren’s ghost haunts Sabrina’s dreams and her diary reveals the tragic events behind Lauren’s actions. With invasion imminent, Sabrina embarks on her quest armed only with a sliver of the Lodestone and Lauren’s diary.

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http://www.wendyjscott.com/

Excerpt:

Me bones ached as I dragged the wooden box off the top shelf of the cupboard and I nearly keeled over with dizziness, when I lowered the box onto the kitchen table. Stuffed amongst the jumble, looking abandoned and forlorn with her missing eye, I found Mary-Lou; Adorabelle’s rag doll. I’d promised to fix her doll after we went to the next market day, where we would barter fresh eggs with Maisey Flannagan for a couple of shiny blue buttons. She’d be missing her dolly.

Since being zapped by the witch I’d missed two market days as I’d been laid up in me bed. Never in me life had I ever been unable to scrape meself off me mattress and do a day’s work. A month I lay there with Daphnee spooning soup into me, wiping me chin, and me arse like an invalid. Too weak to stand up while me insides seethed, as I relived the moment over and over when Adorabelle was snatched away from me.

A crisply folded piece of paper lay on top of the box. I plucked it up and me knuckles grew white and me hand shook as I held it. I didn’t need to unfold it. I knew its hideous contents by heart.

#

By the power of the Council of Witches, a representative has appropriated your child for duties. A one-off compensation of ten silvers can be claimed by presenting this voucher at your nearest C.O.W. branch.

#

I wanted to rip it to shreds or shove it down the throat of the next witch I encountered, but it was the only fragile link I had to Adorabelle so I tucked it into me pocket.

The outside door cracked open, spilling a splash of sunshine into the dim kitchen and framing Daphnee’s disapproving glare. “What are ye doing out of bed?”

I saw the moment the shock registered on her face, that I was dressed in me dead husband’s clothes and her voice rose an octave as she said, “What are ye doing?”

I dinna answer her, but grabbed Mary-Lou and stowed her under me belt. Daphnee rushed to me side, fair shrieking, “Ye canna go! They will kill ye!”

“I must go. She’s me only child, she’ll be wanting her ma.”

Me sister loved me. I could see it in every worry etched line on her face. I rested me hand on hers, looked her eye to eye, and said, “If it was one of ye bairns, ye’d go too.”

She held me gaze for a moment, and then nodded. “What will ye do?”

“Find Adorabelle and bring her home.”

“But what will ye do if the witches won’t allow it.”

I hauled the small sack I’d previously packed onto me back and me muscles groaned, but I ignored the pain and squared me shoulders and headed out the door. “I willna be asking them.”

Outside the bairns were tearing around the yard and I could hear Kellvyn out the back chopping wood. Daphnee smothered me in a hug, openly weeping, and I had to forcefully disengage her circling arms. “I dinna want a fuss so you can say me goodbyes for me.”

Still sobbing, Daphnee finally let me go and it nearly took all me strength to stand tall and walk the short distance out of her sight. As I disappeared from her view she called out, “Ye give wee Adorabelle a kiss from her Aunty and ye take care, Lauren. We’ll be waiting here for ye both when ye come home.”

Salty tears pricked me eyes and I scrubbed at them with me sleeve, but I dinna turn around, just kept taking one shaky step after another.

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Irin: A Last Scribe Novella

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There are so many things to love about R. Lee Walsh's Irin, the first installment of The Last Scribe series. Firstly, it's one of the most original and inventive ideas I've come across in many years, not just in young adult/new adult fiction, but any genre. The fact that it is built around an actual prophecy is really cool and adds to the believability of the concept (if you go to Walsh's website thelastscribe.com you can learn more about this). ~ Excerpt of review by K. O'connor

Book Blurb:

According to actual documents hidden in the Apocrypha, an ancient race of supernatural beings known as Irin roam the Earth. Impervious to aging, illness or mortal injury, they wage a continuous war against those who once threatened the survival of mankind by corrupting the natural order. While ever present, they prefer to remain unseen in order to freely move among us. Those who are seen are easily overlooked and immediately forgotten. Walk down any street in the world and you will pass at least one Irin. Depending on the threat or situation, sometimes many.

When his flame-haired partner disappears after a brutal beating, the legendary Irin enforcer known as Riley Storm sets out to bring her back. Ending his search in Los Angeles, territory he once ruled over, he discovers an alarming secret behind the city's most violent criminals and decides to reclaim not only his fiery companion and fiercest ally but the land he once called home.

Author – R. Lee Walsh

Excerpt from R. Lee Walsh’s Author Page ~

The Last Scribe Series started with an idea that blossomed into an outline that expanded into a seven year journey through countless drafts, edits, and the invaluable coaching of some of the most talented agents and writers on the planet.

What started as a novel idea is now a multi-part series that includes:
The Last Scribe Prequel Novellas: Irin, Scepter,Son of Sam & Sheva

Irin: A Last Scribe Novella

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The Zodiac Collector

FREE e-short with verified purchase of THE ZODIAC COLLECTOR

(see bottom of posting for details)

“I knew this novel was promising when I read the blurb on Goodreads, and it far surpassed my expectations. A dystopian with mounting suspense, tons of conflict, and an interesting theme, this novel was hard to put down! Anything but predictable, Laura Diamond had me guessing what was going to happen next, throughout!” ~April Wood, blogger of A Well Read Woman

From the Press Release:

For almost-16 year-old Anne Devans, the annual Renaissance Faire means three things—her dad spending weeks in the smithy, her bipolar mom doing some manic costume making, and another ruined birthday for her and her twin sister, Mary.

This year, Anne wants things to be different, and she’s going to do things her way.

On the eve of the Faire, Anne (along with a reluctant Mary) conjures up a spell that will make their 16th birthday party a whirlwind event. Little do they know that it’s a literal request.

After the mini tornado in their room subsides, the girls realize they’ve invoked the power of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux. That’s the good news. The bad news is they also caught the attention of a sorceress named Zeena who has been collecting children born under each Zodiac Sign to enhance her power. Once she captures Anne and Mary, Gemini twins, the entire Zodiac—and the world—will be hers.

Anne leads the fight against Zeena, but her one-sided decisions could throw them into a world so far from home, even the Renaissance Faire would seem like a brilliant vacation. Between managing their new Zodiac powers, dodging their manic mother and trying to stop Zeena, they’ll get a 16th birthday they’ll never forget.

 

The Zodiac Collector is available on:

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"Enchanting is the word that comes to mind when describing The Zodiac Collector by Laura Diamond. This book had me hooked from the first chapter; the book's strength lies in Laura Diamond’s ability to create characters you care about and want to know what happens to them. Anne and Mary the twin sisters at the heart of the story, are flawed and yet sympathetic and the sibling interactions between the two have the ring of truth. The pacing and plot of the story is written with a light touch and the construction of the story is not obvious, which allows for an element of surprise and ultimately enchantment. For a while I became absorbed in a world of magic and I believed." ~ Review By Ronald dayter

An offer from the author Laura Diamond - a FREE e-short  TSAVO PRIDE: A SHORT STORY with verified purchase of THE ZODIAC COLLECTOR.  Send an email to:authorlauradiamond@gmail.com, to confirm purchase of THE ZODIAC COLLECTOR.

 

The Zodiac Collector is available on:

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Lost is Choupic

 

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Creative Imagery That's Inspiring ~ Review by blue eyes anon ~ “An excellent novel which explores the history and folklore of Southern Louisiana. A very engaging book that I could not put down. The settings are highly detailed and the characters make you want to hang around with them. I loved the chapter headings. Most are a story in there own right and the ending comes full circle. An ending that comes way to soon!!!!!”

Guest article by Troy Tabor

Lost…

What if all of the folklore elements your grandfather spoke of—actually were?

What if there was only a paper thin separation of less than one degree?

Who would save you?

How would you survive?

This is a story of Louisiana in a Cajun community that almost was or is depending upon your point of view. The kind of story that becomes aware as you read, for it is your breath that the pages seek as they linger along the fringe, around the edge of the lens where all things of questionable origin wait to seep through.

Somewhere, near the back porch a window sits ajar. Somewhere... Someone is watching. Someone strange and frightening. Someone painted by the dust of ages waits for the cover of night. The full moon rises upon the eve of a young man's twenty-first birthday.

What's a Cajun boy, his best friend, a big Labrador retriever, and a kangaroo mouse to do? Party and meet up with their girlfriends on Bourbon Street. Yea that was the plan. But a vibrant world where folklore elements spawn has come alive. Their life is about to change, and a vast Cajun heritage may be the only thing that saves them.

As the moon rises so does the window.

LOST IN CHOUPIC


Troy Tabor has been a paramedic, a CCU nurse, a singer, a songwriter, a husband, a father, a reader, a writer, a lover of dogs and beer, but most of all a Cajun. Countless tales of ravaging hurricanes, of the swamp, and days of old spin bold and fluent in South Louisiana. They smolder like hot roux on your mama’s stove. Music flows until it becomes a waterway, and we are connected to the past, to the future, and to the spaces in-between. LOST IN CHOUPIC is his first novel.

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