Smoke & MirrorZ by Cynthia Lucas

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I read the blurb for 'Smoke & MirrorZ' when Ms. Lucas started promoting it & thought that it might be an interesting book, as I've adored Ms. Lucas's work in the past, so I added it to my list... I'm so glad I did! Wow! This book captivated me from start to finish! I was immediately drawn in when I read the foreword that Ms Lucas added to the book, reminding people of how rampant domestic violence is in the world today.. It touched my soul, as I've dealt with such violence in my past so I knew I just had to read this book.. And read it, I did.. Actually, 'reading' is putting it mildly.. I felt more like I was getting lost in a world that I not only related to but also one where a knight in shining armor was rushing to save the damsel in distress from the nightmares of her past... even though it was a reluctant 'knight' who just happened to be a Jinn and a 'damsel' who wasn't about to let him into her world or her heart.. The "Arabian Nights" theme was captivating & enthralling! Scheri went through so much pain & my heart wept for this beautiful, yet damaged woman.. Z had an ulterior motive for offering his help to her originally, but then even his jaded defenses eased up & slowly started letting Scheri into his heart, even when he didn't realize it was happening.. The mystical background was incredibly thorough & Ms Lucas clearly put a lot of time into researching her story, adding all sorts of  fascinating info about the Jinn (genies). She wrote the characters with true heart & soul.. The horror that Scheri went through was so well-described & heart-breaking.. And when it came to all the 'Smoke & MirrorZ' in Z's unique life, nothing was missed.. Especially the true terror that wan through my heart when reading that no matter how much Scheri & Z ended up letting each other in & changed their lives for each other, the abuser in Scheri's life still found her again.. Will Z & Scheri be able to get through a new nightmare when there is a sadistic killer involved, one who has no plans of letting Scheri escape? Will Z's magic be enough to save her from the demented mind of a madman? You absolutely MUST read this book & find out! 
Not only was this book well-written, it was absolutely a perfect mix of breath-taking & heart-breaking and I, for one, cannot wait til Ms Lucas's next novel to hit the shelves! Also, I do have to mention that the trailer for this book was absolutely fantastic! It stars Cynthia & the gorgeous Grigoris Drakakis (who is also the cover model on the book) and was truly one of the best book trailers I've seen from an indie author in.. well.. forever! Don't miss out on the book or the trailer! 

Platinum Reviews gives "Smoke & MirrorZ" and Cynthia Lucas: 
5 Platinum Rings!

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Blurb:

A woman on the run....in fear for her life
A down on his luck genie with an attitude working as a carnival magician. With limited powers and his own existence in serious danger, can he find the love in his heart and the power in his soul to save her?
Scheharazade ‘Scheri’ Bloom is on the run after marrying the man of her dreams...a wealthy lawyer who turns out to be more like a monster from her nightmares. Abused physically and emotionally and forced to be a prisoner in her own home, no matter how many times she tries to escape, he has the money, power and connections to have her tracked down and brought back to suffer the wrath of his anger at her leaving.
After finally finding a way to escape, she takes to the road and with the little bit of money she’d saved up running out fast, she soon finds herself drawn to a small-town carnival, where she hopes to make a few untraceable dollars working a ride or concession stand. Instead she meets the enigmatic and egotistical magician known as ‘Z’.
Amazed by Z’s skills in illusions, like the audiences who come to see him day in and day out, she soon finds herself in danger again...not so much from her abusive husband as from everything she doesn’t want to feel from the moment she lays eyes on the handsome entertainer who looks like an Arabian Knight come to life and seems to sense every secret she can’t tell him about herself.
What Scheri doesn’t know is that that Azizi ab’d al Jadu, the man known as ‘Z’ is harboring a few secrets himself. Magic is real, and not all illusions are ‘smoke and mirrors’. Z is no mortal man, but a half-breed Ifrit Jinn....a down on his luck genie, living as a carny here in the world of man. Born out of the forbidden love of a Jinn and a disobedient Angel, he is on the run from his own kind for refusing to abide the laws of both Jinn and Allah’s Watchers. And after breaking The Law and taking human form of his own free will to come through the large gold mirror that is his portal into the world of humans....he finds his once vast powers limited by the mortal realm and all the wondrous and distracting sensations of a human body.
Z has little interest in being anyone's savior...but when Scheri’s husband finally tracks her down with the help of one of Z's most dangerous enemies, Z soon finds that it's going to take more than magic to protect the woman who has stolen the heart he didn't know he had. Can he somehow regain the power he needs to save her?

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               ~~~CLICK HERE TO CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA ON FACEBOOK~~~

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Featured Author: Eric R Asher

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Hey, everyone! Meet Mr. Eric Asher, aka: The Worrible King!

Eric is the next featured author in our Q&A series. I've been behind Eric since the release of his first novel, Days Gone Bad and I'm still at his side with the recently released Wolves And The River Of Stone. He is a great novelist & also a fantastic friend. I had the chance to finally meet Eric & his girlfriend in May at the RT Book Convention in Kansas City & we had a blast! This man has a wickedly wonderful sense of humor & is always knows how to make me laugh out loud! 

I hope you'll check out his work & enjoy his Q&A session!

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1) Why did you decide to start writing?

I’ve loved reading since I was very young. Filling out those little maps the library used to hand out as a “reading challenge” was one of my favorite summer activities between school years. At some point in time, I’m not sure when exactly, I would to wonder as I read ‘Wouldn’t it have been neat if they’d done this, or a character had this ability, or if the rules of the world were just a little bit different?’ It eventually led me to write stories and that led me to write my own books.

2) Do you think authors can succeed in multiple genres or should they stick with a single genre?

I personally feel writing across multiple genres can help develop an author’s craft. Depending what those genres are, the author may benefit from a pen name, but it’s always beneficial to look at the world from different perspectives.

3) What do you feel is the biggest reward to you with writing?

Being able to share these stories with other people who enjoy them has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

4) Who are some of your favorite authors & why?

In regards to expanding my love of the fantasy genre, I will always owe thanks to Robert Asprin for his Myth Adventures series. They are such a wonderful blend of humor and adventure that I loved when I was a kid. Northworld by David Drake single handedly turned me into a huge fan of military science fiction. C.S Friedman, Neil Gaiman, Patricia Briggs, and Tad Williams are also at the top of my list.

5) What are the biggest hurdles to overcome as an author?

Accepting the fact not everyone is going to like your book, and that’s perfectly okay. These days I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to read my book. Even if they didn’t particularly enjoy it, I’m glad they gave it a chance. The best advice I can give when it comes to readers not liking your work is to think of your favorite book. The greatest book you’ve ever read that’s verging on a flawless masterpiece. Go look up the reviews on that book. You’ll still find the negative commentary because we all like different things.

Something else I’m glad I realized early on is that everyone needs an editor. If someone wants to publish, they really need to embrace that fact. Your brain is remarkably good at hiding typos from you. It just fills in the blanks as you read.

6) Is there any advice that you can offer for new writers?

Hire an editor. Did I mention that?  Do not give up. Just write. Your first draft on any work will probably suck, so rewrite it. A lot. There is no better way to learn than to do.

7) Tell us a few random personal things about yourself personal & professional!

I’ve always been a bit of a collector, which is probably how I ended up on Travel Channel’s Toy Hunter. I collect Transformers and comic books when I’m not reading or writing. Oh, and Worribles.... 

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~~~~CLICK HERE TO CONNECT WITH ERIC ON FACEBOOK~~~~  

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~~~CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 'DAYS GONE BAD' FROM AMAZON~~

~~~CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE 'WOLVES AND THE RIVER OF STONE' HERE ON AMAZON~~~

Featured Author: Kristin Secorsky

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Welcome to our next featured author spot! Meet Kristin Secorsky!
Kristin is the author of The Immortal Scrolls & Immortal Beginnings: Amara. She is currently working on a third book for the series. She also has the distinction of being a wonderful woman & my very best friend so please make her feel welcome!

Kristin's Bio:
Kristin Secorsky grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, obsessed with vampires and all things paranormal since she was a child. She began writing paranormal short stories in high school. She earned an Associate of Liberal Arts degree from Del Mar College, a Bachelor of Arts in English degree from Texas A & M University, and a Master of Education degree from University of Phoenix. Frequently plagued with insomnia, Kristin stays up into the wee hours of the morning writing her novels. The Immortal Scrolls was her first self-published novel. Kristin now lives in Dallas, Texas with her family.

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I posed the same Q&A questions to her as I did the other authors & I'll share them with you now.
Enjoy!
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1) Why did you decide to start writing?
  
It was not a choice or a decision. It was a need I had to fulfill. I love to write.  

2) Do you think authors can succeed in multiple genres or should they stick with a single genre?

Yes, I think authors can succeed in multiple genres if they are in what interests the author and what the author knows about. If it is forced you can tell, and the writing is usually not successful.

3) What do you feel is the biggest reward to you with writing? 

When readers message me and tell me how much they love my story. Making readers happy is the greatest reward. 

4) Who are some of your favorite authors & why? 

I have so many favorites. 
Charlaine Harris, Patricia Cornwell, Anne Rice, J. Suzanne Frank, and so many more. 

5) What are the biggest hurdles to overcome as an author? 

Finding time to write without feeling guilty for neglecting other important things is the biggest hurdle for me. It seems other responsibilities usually win out over writing. Also, dealing with negative reviews is always hard.  

6) Is there any advice that you can offer for new writers? 

Take your time and have your stories edited so you can put out quality work. Unless you enjoy feeling like you were kicked in the stomach, don’t ever read bad reviews.   

7) Tell us a few random personal things about yourself, both personally & professionally!

I am a Libra. I am terrified of spiders. I love dark chocolate. When I write, I need to have salty snacks nearby such as green olives or sun flower seeds. And I am obsessed with the Game of Thrones.

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~~~CLICK HERE FOR KRISTIN'S FAN PAGE~~~

Author Feature 3: Joanne Jaytanie

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Meet Author Joanne Jaytanie, who is the newest Platinum featured author!

Joanne is a lovely woman with an incredibly wicked sense of humor & a devotion for animals, especially her beloved dobermans! I've spoken with Joanne often and she always keeps me smiling & looking forward to the next book! She is the author of "Chasing Victory" which is the first book in The Winters Sisters series and it's an addictive romantic suspense novel that you'll absolutely swoon over! Her next book will be released within the next month & I'm adamantly looking forward to reading it!

Joanne took some time to sit down and answer our questions for the featured author session & I'll add them here for you to check out! I'll also add links for her Facebook author page and her website at the bottom of this page, as well!

I hope you'll read over the interview and learn more about this wonderful gal and amazing author!

                                       AUTHOR Q&A WITH JOANNE JAYTANIE
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1) Why did you decide to start writing?

 I fell in love with writing in my freshman year in high school. I took Creative Writing and had the most outstanding teacher. Mr. Rappaport introduced me to a world I wanted to live in. To create a world, it's characters, the events in their lives at a certain point in time - no holds barred, count me in!!
I knew at the age of 13 that I wanted to write, four years ago I got really active, and two years ago I realized that I needed to put myself out there and Just Do It!!

2) Do you think authors can succeed in multiple genres or should they stick with a single genre?

 I believe authors can succeed in multiple genres. However, to achieve this success an author must be aware when you change genres, you need to re-brand yourself. For the most part you are starting over, new genre, new readers, new brand - express your change.

3) What do you feel is the biggest reward to you with writing?

 Far and away, my biggest reward is happy readers and making new friends! Having a person take the time out of their busy day to send me a note or post on Facebook how much they loved my book, makes me push forward to produce something even better.

4) Who are some of your favorite authors & why?

I love Sherrilyn Kenyon. Her imagination is awe inspiring. Her determination to be published after turn down, after turn down, propels me to keep moving forward.
Clive Cussler is another of my favorites. The suspenseful adventures he writes keeps me on my toes looking for new twists to excite my readers.
Thirdly, I would say Christine Feehan. She was the first paranormal author who made me realize that I wanted to write with at least elements of paranormal. Her world building is amazing and all of her series are my favorites!

5) What are the biggest hurdles to overcome as an author?

To get noticed. In this crazy, ever-changing world of cyberspace, its extremely challenging to carve out your niche. To convince the world that you have something worthwhile to share.

6) Is there any advice that you can offer for new writers?

Don't give up! To put yourself out there for others to critique and at times criticize, is difficult not to take personally. If you want to be a writer - then write and don't give up. To quote a successful author guru of mine, "Write the Damn Book!" Thank you Cherry Adair, you are an inspiration.

7) Tell us a few random personal things about yourself, personal & professional!

Dobermans are my passion. At the age of 21 I went out to find myself a Yorkie puppy. Being unfamiliar with the city and before the age of GPS, I got lost. I ended up at a home that just happened to have puppies. In my minds eye I see this tiny red puppy come bounding out of the kitchen and it was instant love. I had never in my life seen a Doberman puppy, really didn't know much about them, except I wasn't leaving that house without her. Taisha was my constant shadow for the next 13 years, and I have had Dobermans ever since.
I showed dogs for over 20 years, in obedience, agility, rally and breed. I showed a Bull-mastiff to #8 in the country. I had decided to work toward becoming a breed judge. At that point I knew the time had come to decide between pursuing my love of writing or judging.
I have always leaned towards creative activities, stained glass, designing, jewelry making, scrape booking and immersing myself into wonderful stories. I wanted to go to NYC to college at Parsons, but my dad said no daughter of his was going to go to school in NYC. I started college in Retail Management, decided to broaden my major and changed to Business Management.
I am the President of our local Romance Writers Chapter, Peninsula Romance Writers, which is Debbie Macomber's home chapter.
I was recently asked by the President of DPCA, Doberman Pinscher Club of America, to chair the Historical Committee and to write the next book about the Doberman. I feel my world has come full circle. I am overwhelmed, excited, and truly honored to take on this project.



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                  ~~~CLICK HERE FOR JOANNE'S FACEBOOK FAN PAGE~~~

                       ~~~CLICK HERE TO HEAD TO JOANNE'S WEBSITE~~~

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                                                              Joanne's Bio:
Joanne was born and raised in Sherburne, New York, a quaint village surrounded by dairy farms and rolling hills. From the moment she could read she wanted to explore the world. During her college years she slowly crept across the country, stopping along the way in Oklahoma, California, and finally Washington State, which she now proudly calls home. She lives with her husband and three Dobermans; Anya, Maya, Tristan, in their home located on the Kitsap Peninsula with a panoramic view of the Olympic Mountains.
Joanne is a member of Romance Writers of America, and an active member of Debbie Macomber’s home chapter, Peninsula Romance Writers, where she has served as the president and current vice president.
Joanne is an avid reader, romance being the top of her list. Her perfect afternoon is to sit in front of the fire with a cup of tea, engrossed in a great novel with her dobermans lying on her lap and on her feet. She doesn’t leave home without an audio book playing in her jeep

The Bifrost Bridge by James Bradley Clarke

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When I first looked into this book, I was sure that the world of fairy tales had been overdone so many times that I wouldn't see much difference between this one & the other classic favorites that I have enjoyed over the year,s with my children... However, I was proven wrong.. This is such a beautiful and entrancing fairy tale! Mr. Clarke takes the often repetitive world of fairy tales and adds an elegant, dramatic twist to it, producing an epic and moving adventure that children will forever cherish! My daughter and I read it together and had many nights where we just didn't want to put it down! His characters, including the feisty Silya and Hedda, are memorable and seem so very real! The princesses are creative & never give up their battle to save themselves & their homes! It's a hard thing to create a children's fairy tale that even parents don't want to put down and again, I commend Mr. Clarke for releasing a wonderful new fairy tale to pass on to generations to come! I don't want to say too much about the book, as I believe fairy tales should be discovered and looked at by each person & child individually, to allow for their own interpretations, but rest assured, I absolutely loved this book! 
I highly recommend this tale for parents, grandparents, aunts uncles & others who love to see their beloved children get lost in the fantasy world and to also help encourage an active imagination..This book is a must-have and will make a fantastic Christmas gift! 

Platinum Gives "The Bifrost Bridge": 5 Platinum Rings! 

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Blurb:

The Bifrost Bridge is a Viking princess fairy tale intertwined with Norse mythology. Silya, the feisty ten year old Princess of Norway, eagerly awaits the arrival of her cousin and best friend, Princess Hedda of Denmark. The princesses are both looking forward to the summer solstice celebration, but trouble lurks in their future as magical villains see the girls as being vital for their deadly conspiracy. Hedda and Silya find themselves cast into a dangerous adventure filled with fire giants, female warrior angels and the God of Thunder. Can the princesses save themselves and their kingdoms, or will the forces of chaos overwhelm and destroy them?

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Excerpt:

Queen Lena made certain the princesses sat with Guardsman Brandt’s twin sons, eleven-year-old Bragi and Wiglaf. As the lead guardsman in King Harald’s court, Brandt was both counselor and good friend to the king.
After a long time of awkward silence, Wiglaf built up the courage to talk to Hedda.
“Princess Hedda, may I—”
“Wiglaf, you can just call me Hedda,” interrupted Hedda. Silya giggled and nodded in encouragement to him. “Thank you,” replied Wiglaf as his face turned red.
“It won’t be long before King Harald and Queen Lena will begin the first dance with your parents.”
“I never knew dancing interested you, Wiglaf,” teased Silya.
“He has not mentioned dancing since he tripped on a bench at the last banquet,” added Bragi.
“Wiglaf was trying to speak,” said Hedda with a compassionate tone. “Do you like to dance, Wiglaf?”
“Yes, Princess. I mean, Hedda,” replied Wiglaf.
“Well I happen to need a gentleman to dance with me,” explained Hedda. “Do you think you can help me with that?”
“Only if you don’t mind a lout stepping on your
toes all night,” answered Bragi. Wiglaf looked ready to knock Bragi to the floor when the musicians suddenly began playing the first dance song. Hedda patted Wiglaf gently on the hand and his temper returned to normal. After the kings and queens finished the first dance, the twins led the princesses to the floor where they twirled around for hours.
When the banquet ended, the two princesses climbed up to the ring castle gate balcony to look at the calm sea in the midnight sun. The night temperature became cool, so they cuddled together under a blanket as they looked at the horizon.
“I wish this solstice would last forever,” said Silya after sitting awhile in silence.
“Me too, Silya. Me too,” replied Hedda flashing a ready smile. “And you were right about what you said last night. We will always be friends no matter what happens in the future. Let’s go back inside and get warm by the hearth before our parents make us go to sleep.” Silya nodded in reply. She and Hedda linked their arms and walked back to the royal longhouse.........
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      ~~~CLICK HERE TO FIND JAMES BRADLEY CLARKE ON FACEBOOK~~~