GGR DN Simmons Desires Unleashed Book Blog Tour & Giveaway!

Thank you for stopping  by today. I'm hosting D.N. Simmons' Desires Unleashed Book Blog Tour & Giveaway presented by GGR PromoGroup.


Hello Lovely People, 

My name is Warren Davis, and I'm one of the characters from the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles.  D.N. ask me to stop by and do a series introduction to all of you here on this cool-ass blog, so here I am. Where can I start? Well, how about this, if you love vampires and shape-shifters and you think you've read all of the great fiction out there pertaining to the two, you simply must check out the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. It's going to blow your mind. 

Now, don't think I'm just pushing the series because I'm a character and I like the attention I get when readers gush over me. It's not that. I truly want to expose this series because it's freaking awesome. The things that happen in each book will not only shock you, but it will keep you glued to the pages until each book is finished. 

*Do you love action? Well, you're going to get a ton of that in the KOTDC. 

*Do you great sex scenes? Oh there's plenty of that and I'm not ashamed to say, I do work it. I don't play when it comes to my between the sheets action, if you catch my meaning. * wink *. 

*Do you love vampire and shape-shifter politics and customs? I do, too. You'll love where D.N. takes these ideas and makes them her own... or rather ours. 

*Do you love intelligent, sexy and witty characters that are so well-written, you forget you're reading a book because you're so invested in our lives? Yeah, it's like that. 

The Knights of the Darkness Chronicles is unlike any urban-fantasy you've ever read before. There are no main characters. According to D.N., she wanted to explore the entire world she created, and didn't want to limit the perspective to just one or two characters. And that's great for not only myself, but for all of my family and friends in the series. We all get so much exposure and I think that's so unique. There are GBLT characters as well as straight, so be prepared to see some pretty steamy scenes and extremely interesting and intricate relationships. 

When you pick up Desires Unleashed, which is the first book in the series, you'll be introduced to my partner, Matthew and of course, Yours Truly. Take a front seat ride with us as we investigate a series of gruesome murders plaguing our beautiful city, Chicago. If it's one thing I hate, it's seeing innocent people being hurt or killed and I swear, I'm going to catch the SOB who's been killing in my city... as soon as I find out who or what is behind the murders. 

Will you join me on this adventure?

Trust me, you won't regret it. 

Title: Desires Unleashed
Author: D.N. Simmons
Book Length: 290 pages
Series: Knights of the Darkness Chronicles Book 1
Publisher: Rushmore Publishing; 3 edition
Genre:  MM, MMF, Vampire Romance, Mystery, Action, Paranormal, Werewolf/Shifter
Length: 290 pages

Blurb:
Desires Unleashed is the first novel in the riveting, highly addictive and sexually-charged Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. Experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this electrifying page-turner as you uncover the mystery behind the series of gruesome killings that have been terrorizing the citizens of Chicago. 

With mutilated bodies being discarded all around the thriving city of Chicago, the highly-trained, government-funded police force, better known as the S.U.I.T., has assigned two detectives to discover who or what is behind the series of gruesome murders. Soon into their investigation, the detectives realize that they are in over their heads and if they are going to stop the menace before the next attack, they are going to have to seek the help of two unlikely individuals. 

Original, sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget!

Buy Links:

Amazon US: Desires Unleashed (Knights of the Darkness Chronicles (Book One) 1)

Amazon UK

ARe

Barnes & Noble

Hello, 
I’m very honored to be here and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this opportunity to meet new readers.  My name is D.N. Simmons and I’m an urban-fantasy/paranormal romance author. My series Knights of the Darkness Chronicles is phenomenal, sexy, highly entertaining and completely addictive… well, that’s what I’ve been told. Who am I to disagree *giggle*.  When I say that my series is unlike any other, I really mean it. You will NOT find another series quite like it in the genre. That was my sinister plan from the very beginning.  I wanted to create a series with a platform that would take readers into a completely unique and bold direction with characters they could relate to. The story lines are original from book to book and they keep you engaged from the beginning to the end.  I know that the shelves are filled with paranormal books, especially those involving vampires and shape-shifters. And if you’re a fan of the genre, like I am, you may think that you won’t find anything too original because the market is already flooded.  That’s only because you haven’t read the KOTDC yet.  

See, I’m the kind of person that gets extremely enthusiastic about awesome storytelling. When I finish reading a great book or watching an amazing movie, I’m still buzzing about it. One of the reasons why I get so excited is because of exceptional writing and imagination. I appreciate that so much, therefore, I knew I had to give my readers the very best I could give them.

The Knights of the Darkness Chronicles isn’t just a series you read. It’s a series you experience.  You’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when you grab the first book. :D Trust me. 

Excerpt:

Darian walked down the dimly lit hallway until he reached a huge tapestry on the wall. He brushed the tapestry to the side to reveal a small sensor in the wall. He pressed his hand to the sensor screen. As the red light at the bottom of the sensor turned blue, a hidden door slid open exposing an elevator. 

Pulling a key out of his pocket, he stepped inside, inserting it into the slot on the elevator panel to start it downward. Three levels down, he exited and walked down another short L-shaped corridor to his private skybox overlooking an octagon-shaped arena. He settled into one of the four comfortable leather chairs facing the clear glass paneled wall. He looked around the arena to see that the soft cushioned seats were already full and everyone was anticipating the tournament. All the bets had been made. One could bet on a fighter per night, thus increasing their chances of winning. Or they could pick a champion to win the whole tournament and receive one lump sum. There was a little less than one hundred million dollars to be won this night, which was very good for an opening night. Darian had already placed his bet on the fighter known only as Draco. Xavier had been most impressed by the fighter’s skill, so 

Darian had chosen Draco as his champion. 

It never ceased to amaze Darian that the human race would, no doubt, do just about anything for money. They put a price tag on their own lives. Darian had never met one vampire that would name the price of their own immortality. He figured mortals thought they were immortal, that life would always grant them another day. Until, of course, their last day came before they could blink their eyes. Darian no longer worried about having his life snuffed out so easily. It would take a lot more than a virus or blunt force trauma to kill him, of that he was pleased.

The announcer came out through sliding double doors with two beautiful female vampires. Dressed in red sequined bikinis and top hats, white sequined bow ties and matching six inch heels, they stood by his side, hands on their hips. The announcer wore a red sequined tux with tails, matching hat and a white silk shirt with matching gloves. He was a tall male with black hair and pale skin. Though he wasn’t a vampire, he could easily pass for one. 

Vampires were always pale before their first feeding. Pale and cold. Then when their bodies are filled and warmed with living blood, they can pass easily amongst the human race. A very observant human could detect the subtle differences in skin and hair textures and the shine of a vampire’s eyes. 

The announcer ordered some film footage of the fighters to be run on the huge television suspended over the arena. The crowd ‘oohhhed’ and ‘ahhhed’ as they witnessed the talents of the new tournament fighters. There were a mixture of female and male martial artists and grappling street fighters. 

Darian could hear a few murmurs of those who wished they could change their bets. He smiled. Too late, he thought. The footage ended, the crowd hushed, everyone waited for the theatrics the announcer provided. The lights dimmed to darkness, leaving only one spotlight on the announcer. He looked around the crowd as he raised the microphone to his mouth. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight you are in for a treat. Once again, we have gathered all of the world’s best fighters to battle it out over the next three days, for a total grand prize of five million dollars!” he said with raised hands. 

The crowd cheered and applauded. Darian laughed and clapped as well. He liked the energy from the audience. It was an appetizer to the hunt, or in this case, since he had fed already, it was more of a dessert. Just enough to whet his appetite for the bloody fight that was soon to come.

Author Bio:

D. N. Simmons lives in Chicago IL., with a rambunctious German Shepherd that's too big for his own good and mischievous kitten that she affectionately calls "Itty-bitty". 

Her hobbies include rollerblading, billiards, bowling, reading, watching television and going to the movies. 

She has been nominated at Love Romances and More, winning honorable mention for best paranormal book of 2006. She has won "Author of the Month" at Warrior of Words. 

She was voted "New Voice of Today" 
at Romance Reviews and "Rising Star" at Love Romance and More. 

To learn more, and have the opportunity to speak with the author personally, please visit the official  website and forum at www.dnsimmons.com . D.N. is always interested in meeting new and wonderful people.

Author Contact Links:
Email: authordnsimmons@dnsimmons.com
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Giveaway:
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My Family's Heart Presents- Lorhainne Eckhart;'s Walk the Right Road Cover Reveal & Giveaway!!

TITLE – Walk the Right Road: The Complete Collection

SERIES –  Walk the Right Road

AUTHOR – Lorhainne Eckhart

GENRE – Mystery/Thriller – Romantic Suspense

PUBLICATION DATE – February 2014

LENTH (Pages/# Words) - 900

PUBLISHER – Lorhainne Eckhart

COVER ARTIST –  Steven Novak

BOOK BLURB / SYNOPSIS – 

'A 2013 Readers Favorite Award Winner'

“There was not a human emotion I did not go through while reading this book. I will forewarn you, you will need a box of tissues and a punching bag while reading this dynamic tale.”-Romance Junkies

“I loved every single book on this collection. Each story could be read individually but reading each book in order gave great perspective to the next. As I started this series one at a time I will give each book a separate review. But I will say here that I loved Eckhart's writing style and her ability to develop a cohesive story line around strong characters is refreshing! I am looking forward to reading more of her books.” – Reviewer, Cheryl

“Lorhainne Eckhart is a master storyteller and this collection is a steal. It includes all of the books in the Walk the Right Road Series.” – JRA

*Warning - This series is not for those looking for a light easy read. It is filled with rough language, sexual tension, and steamy hot romantic suspense!

WALK THE RIGHT ROAD: The Complete Collection includes all the books in this sizzling suspense series.

THE CHOICE: One woman. Two men. And a choice that could kill here.

LOST AND FOUND: A hit and run. A deserted country road. A parents' worst nightmare.

MERKABA: Everyone thought he was dead and that's how he needs it to stay. But the secretive dark haired beauty could ultimately be his undoing.

BOUNTY: Most cops have a past. A past they can speak of. A past they can share. But not Diane...

BLOWN AWAY, The Final Chapter: Imagine that the man who's been the source of all your misery shows up on your doorstep. Imagine this man wants your forgiveness for every bad thing he's done to you and your friends. Would you believe him?

Buy Links:

Amazon US: Walk the Right Road Series: The Complete Collection
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
iTunes
Smashwords



EXCERPT: 

Prologue

It was too quiet. Unnaturally quiet.

The sort of unusual quiet that happens right after a big storm rips through. But there hadn’t been one—a storm, that is. This was just another sunny day, exactly like hundreds of other brisk autumn Fridays on this off-the-grid, rustic island of Las Seta in the Pacific Northwest.

DEA Agent Sam Carre squinted from the blazing sun that brightened the calm blue sky as he walked out of the shade. From the edge of the old-growth forest, he glanced back into the heavy foliage to where he’d separated from his partner, Diane, two hundred yards back along the hidden fence line.

This island was an absolute crown jewel to any logging company but a nightmare for Sam’s team. It provided too many hideouts, the wrong kind—the dangerous kind—along with the perfect cover for marijuana agriculture.

Sam popped on his dark glasses and cut around three parked cars. He snagged his black jeans on some thorny bushes as he hurried toward the six solid sure-footed male agents in front of the wrought-iron gate protecting Lance Silver’s secure estate.

“Nobody goes until I say so.” Sam kept his authoritative voice even and his charming grin hidden as he thought about slapping steel cuffs around Lance Silver’s wrists. Tonight they’d celebrate, because today they finally had all the proof they needed to bust Silver and lock him up for life. He was a dangerous and connected man who had, until now, controlled the highway of drugs flowing down the west coast across the country, with deep ties into South America.

“What’s taking Diane so long? Can she even make it over the fence?” Agent Donaldson, a junior member on the team, pulled his ball cap over his prematurely balding head. He stood with Agents Craig, Daniels, Green, Mercer, and Winters. They were suited up in their Kevlar vests and dark glasses, weapons holstered and ready to go.

Sam cursed under his breath. Donaldson was pushing it again. It’d only been five minutes since Sam’s partner, Diane Larsen, climbed the security fencing, leading four agents, two of them women, into the forest behind the house. And this was after she’d disarmed the wire triggering the alarm. Sam wasn’t in the mood to argue with the young agent who liked to challenge Diane’s authority. He undermined anything she did, which was absolute crap. Diane, the only woman on this team with a leadership role, worked ten times harder than any of these guys. She was kind hearted and respectful—yet capable of kicking ass when she had to. She’d been a rock for Sam when he needed a supportive friend to help him keep his head together. But since she’d fallen apart at the field office—the news her dad had died after accidentally mixing up his meds had hit her hard—she’d been getting all kinds of grief, especially from Donaldson. One incident, just one time, and it was all these tough-ass pricks could remember.

Sam moved away from the gate and back into the shaded forest to see if he could spot Diane.

“That kid’s really vying for Diane’s spot,” said Agent Green as he dogged Sam’s heels. He resembled a middle child, always trying to fit in, his round baby cheeks a contrast to his quarterback shoulders.

“Yeah, well, he ain’t going to get it.” Sam crouched down. “Can’t see anything.”

Green chuckled softly. “These damn renegades love this off-the-grid wilderness. It’s the perfect hideout. Nothing but a bunch of hippies, musicians, and artists live here.” Green spat on the ground a few inches from Sam’s black boots.

“Hard for those families raising kids here, you’d think. No electricity, no stores.” Sam breathed in the clean air.

“Sam, we’re inside,” Diane’s low, silky voice whispered over the radio.

“Let’s go, let’s go.” Sam signaled the six men with him.

Mercer stepped forward to cut the padlock with heavy bolt cutters. It broke, and he yanked the chain and tossed it to the ground. He and Green flung open the double gates. Sam jumped into the passenger side of the first car, and Donaldson climbed behind the wheel. As he slammed the door shut, Donaldson floored it. Craig, Daniels, and Winters followed in two cars behind, whipping up a trail of dust. Green and Mercer raced behind on foot.

Two hundred feet up the long, narrow driveway, the two-story estate house appeared magically out of the secluded forest. It rivaled any mansion from the Old South, with a fancy porch, woodwork, and gardens on all sides. Nothing moved, not even a curtain shielding the floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Lance Silver had people, a lot of them. The place should have been buzzing right about now. Sam pulled the warrant from under his Kevlar vest. He flicked the holster of his Glock and ran his fingers through his short brown hair. His gut warned him something was wrong. Where was everyone? They shouldn’t have been able to drive in without creating mayhem. This had been too easy—and too easy meant a problem. “Shit!”

Sam pressed his hand to his earpiece. “Keep your heads up, eyes open. Something’s not right here.” As a seasoned cop, Sam had learned the hard way to see things others didn’t notice. And he analyzed. It was a coping mechanism that had become his mode of survival, especially after what happened to Elise. They pulled closer to the front door. He felt the downward slide of something he couldn’t put his finger on, but Sam knew—something was off.

Donaldson slammed the brakes and skidded to a stop at the front door. Sam braced his hand on the dashboard before jerking open his door and jumping out into a cloud of dust. Donaldson bounded over the hood and raced Sam up the stone stairs. Craig and Daniels hurried around the side of the house. Winters, Green, and Mercer flanked Sam.

Donaldson banged on the door. “DEA, open up.”

Nothing, no response, and Sam really listened. By now, they should have heard footsteps, some kind of rustling from inside.

Beads of sweat covered Donaldson’s face, and he appeared to vibrate, as if he itched to kick open the door.

“Open it.” Sam stepped to the side, holding up his gun. Craig took the other side. Donaldson pulled up his knee and kicked hard with the heel of his black boot over the dead bolt, letting out a rough oomph. The doorframe splintered as the mahogany door crashed open.

“DEA, we have a warrant,” Sam called. His adrenaline pumped, and he aimed his weapon and went in. Everything went into slow motion. Details stood out. In his peripheral vision, Sam caught a glimpse of the shining black steel of a gun and nearly crapped in his pants. It took a second to register it was his gun—his image in a floor-to-ceiling wall mirror. It filled both sides of the massive front hall. “Christ almighty,” he muttered before gripping his weapon and shouting to the others: “We’re in. Green, Winters, check the basement. Donaldson, upstairs.” His gut twisted tightly as he struggled to listen. Where was the scrambling, the shouting, something—anything to break this chilly silence? “DEA, show yourself,” Sam shouted again, clearing the front hall and the sunken living room, through an open archway to a huge chef’s kitchen, which was extremely neat and tidy. Not even a measly cup had been left sitting on the counter.

Floor-to-ceiling windows filled every room. He could see Diane and the four agents out back behind the solar panels as they searched the outbuildings. Sam frowned and leaned against the double-pane glass door. This massive house was silent except for his agents, who were scouring every room.

Winters’ deep voice grated through Sam’s earpiece: “Basement’s clear.”

Everyone checked in. The garage, the greenhouse, all empty. This upscale, state-of-the-art, energy-efficient estate had been abandoned. Not even the caretaker remained.

“Sam, there’s no marijuana. There’s no equipment,” Diane said through his earpiece.

Beads of sweat popped out on Sam’s forehead. Beneath his Kevlar vest, his snug T-shirt stuck to his well-sculpted back. The radio buzzed with furious updates from their twelve-man team on the mainland, which included the Sequim sheriff’s detachment, the Coast Guard, Interpol, and the DEA. This had been a simultaneous sweep of all Lance Silver’s property, both here on Las Seta and in the underground truck trailer at his compound across the water in rural Gardiner, Washington. All empty.

Sam pressed his microphone close to his mouth. “Diane, where are you?” He slid open the glass kitchen door and walked onto the massive stone patio overlooking the pond and the luscious, well-tended rose garden. He slumped against the patio door and tried to rub away the pulsating pain between his eyebrows. Since this investigation started, he’d begun to experience a sudden sensitivity to light and sound. It could be gone in several hours, but the usual warning had been there for the last few days—a blue aura in his peripheral vision, black spots. But he ignored it, told himself it was the stress of running what had started out as an independent investigation by the DEA but had escalated into an international taskforce targeting the marijuana grow-ops running rampant on the isolated islands in the Pacific Northwest.

World-renowned high-grade marijuana was being shipped and traded for cocaine and guns. This was big time, a major business and an international problem that law enforcement had yet to defuse. As if they could.

“What’s wrong?”

He never heard Diane approach. Her words stretched out long and loud. It took forever for his senses to override the roaring in his ears. His blood began to pound through his body, pulling him deeper into throbbing misery.

“Here, take this.”

He opened his eyes when Diane tapped out three pills from a small bottle. He didn’t question it. He just swallowed. There wasn’t much Sam wouldn’t take from his trusted friend. Diane was a woman of medium height and build, compact and tough, with tan short-cropped hair, the type of woman who didn’t distract a man with flirtatious curves. But she was the kind of partner who’d do the gritty groundwork while keeping her partner focused, which was what she had done on the boat ride over this morning, ignoring Agent Donaldson’s crude jibes, guzzling coffee with Sam.

“If you don’t pull it together, some woman on this team’s going to fulfill her dream and have you bedded and nursed before we can wrap this up.”

Whatever she gave him took the edge off the pain, which would have otherwise been blinding.

“Eat this.” She tossed him an energy bar. He didn’t argue, ripping open the foil wrap with his teeth and chewing the gritty bar.

“He knew we were coming,” he said.

“Click off your radio, Sam.”

He ripped the headset from his ear. “You know we followed the letter of the law to make sure this scumbag didn’t get off on some technicality. All those stakeouts—we did our homework, Diane. We know who the little guys are, every fucking one of them on the street. We have video footage and rock-solid evidence that the drugs were here!” Sam pounded the fleshy part of his fist against the smooth fir siding.

“Agent Carre, you better get in here and see this,” Donaldson beckoned quite arrogantly, undermining his superior, Diane, by not addressing her.

Diane, one to always hold her emotions close and rarely show what she thought, tilted one eyebrow up as her face hardened. This prick was deliberately pushing her buttons and deserved a one-on-one ass kicking. Personally, Sam would have liked to plant his foot far up that kid’s ass by now, except this was Diane’s fight, and if she wanted those guys to respect her, Sam couldn’t fight it for her.

Sam and Diane followed Donaldson down a long hall, which resembled an art gallery, to Lance Silver’s study in the solar glass wing. Green, Mercer, Winters, and Craig looked up, but only Winters—a big, dark Irish and African-American guy with long, fuzzy hair—would honestly look at Sam. The tension multiplied when the other tough guys turned away slightly, crossing their arms and glancing awkwardly at Lance Silver’s palatial mahogany desk. All of its drawers hung open.

“We found this in the top drawer of the desk.” Donaldson appeared to own the room when he picked up a crisp yellow piece of paper from the cluttered desk and passed it to Sam.

Diane peered closer, her head never topping Sam’s shoulder.

His vision cleared. Bold black letters spelled out his name. He didn’t miss how still the room had become. He could feel the heat from every agent while they waited for Sam to explain, but then Diane ripped the note from his hands and stepped in front of him.

“What the hell is this, some kind of game?” she snapped.

No one answered.

Sam was ready to clear out. When he replaced his headset, he could hear his boss, Dexter, shouting over the radio, bypassing Sam as he spoke directly to Diane. Diane pressed her hand to her ear to listen.

“I want your asses back here now,” Dexter said. “We got a problem. A tip was called into the Sequim sheriff’s detachment telling us to check Sam’s locker at Ocean’s gun club. The tipster said we would find a key to Lance Silver’s estate and implied that my golden boy is on Lance’s payroll.”

Sam looked up so fast that his head spun. Dizzy, he stepped back and leaned against the mahogany bookcase. “What the hell? That’s bullshit.”

Dexter yelled, “There’s a chopper en route to get you now. Two deputies from the Sequim detachment just opened your locker, and they found a key, along with five pounds of marijuana.”

Sam’s blood chilled. The bad feeling he had earlier had just become a clear epiphany. He could almost see that suave, tight-assed bachelor, Lance Silver, laughing at him. Instead of Silver going to jail, all this shit flying around had landed hard right on top of Sam. Not only did he look like the leak in Lance Silver’s back pocket, doubt of Sam’s true allegiance was painted on the faces of the agents surrounding him. He could feel their censure.

Amazing how quickly they turned. They thought he had tipped Silver off about the raid. Pissed and completely furious, Sam gazed hard at all of the turncoats until each one stepped back. He wasn’t about to dignify this with a response, not after how hard he had worked to nail that bastard, following every lead the other agents missed or brushed off. Sam hadn’t missed a thing—he lived for this investigation. He had breathed life into it and lost sleep because of it. Those guys should have known that out of anyone, Sam wouldn’t be the one to betray this team. He ground his lips together so hard that they trembled. He felt as if the rug had been ripped right out from under him, and he was positive he could hear a toilet flushing six months of steady, solid work away. How could this have happened again? Why was he such a target?

Well, for one, this was Las Seta, an unpoliced, reclusive island, part of the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. History alone should have warned him this job wouldn’t be easy. The explorers and adventurers who had claimed this island over a hundred years before landed there quite by accident, for one reason or another. Whether hiding or running from something, they had all insisted on a land free from politics and civilized order. Families and clans remained year after year, protecting each other, and, staying true to tradition, they followed their own way of doing things. So, while Sam hunted Lance Silver, Lance Silver and the island of Las Seta had changed the rules of the game and ambushed Sam.

Lorhainne Eckhart is a 2013 Readers Favorite Award winner, frequently a top 100 bestselling author on Amazon in Romance, Westerns and Police Procedural. Author of over 25 titles which includes novels, collections, and short stories. She writes three genres, western romance, romantic suspense and military romance and has sold more than 250,000 eBooks since her bestseller The Forgotten Child landed on the Amazon Bestseller list for Westerns and Western Romance. 

The German Foreign rights for The Forgotten Child have since been acquired by a major publisher, retitled The Forgotten Boy and released March 18, 2014, now a top 100 overall bestseller on Amazon. Lorhainne lives on sunny Salt Spring Island with her family where she is working on her next book. 

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS: 

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WEBSITE / BLOG 

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GIVEAWAY PRIZES 

1 - Epub/mobi of The Outsider Series: The Complete Collection

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~~Review for Black Jasmine by Toby Neal~~

Title: Black Jasmine

Author: Toby Neal

Publisher: Toby Neal

Genre: Crime/Mystery/Suspense/Contemporary

Publication date: November 1, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-9839524-6-6

Length: 274 pgs

Book Series and number: A Lei Crime Novel book 3

Rating: 5

Heat Rating: Warm

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed for For Whom The Books Toll

5, Warm

Blurb:

The island of Maui is turquoise ocean, stunning vistas, and whalesong—but organized crime has a hidden hold, and Detective Lei Texeira tracks evil that hides behind a beautiful face.

Lei and Stevens find a haven on Maui—until their new life as a couple is interrupted by murder. When a nameless teenage girl dies in an apparent vehicular suicide, Lei can’t rest until she finds out what really happened. She blazes through all the wealth and poverty of island society in her quest for justice, rousing a deadly foe—even as she faces the personal demons of commitment and revenge that threaten the only real love she’s ever known.

Black Jasmine by Toby Neal is another great page turner with some unforeseen twists.

The action is fast paced and the characters as always are well written with depth and dimension.

Ms. Neal's writing is so descriptive that I believed that I was in Hawaii feeling the breezes in my hair. She gives just enough insight into the people and culture, the sights of the islands that allows the reader to transport themselves into the pages of the book.

Michael is very patient with Lei and all of her problems, he loves her deeply and it shows in everything he does for her. Although there are times I believe that he gets frustrated with Lei's inability to move past certain obstacles.

Lei is strong willed and a survivor but sometimes her past comes back to haunt her. I admire Lei's determination. I wish she could get over her commitment issues and be happy with Michael. I think he's very good for her. Lei is still jumping first and looking later in her cases, she has learned to trust her gut feelings which makes her methods a little unorthodox but in the end she always gets the bad guy.

Lei and Michael go on a roller coaster ride that starts out with trying to bust a cock fighting ring, to trying to find out who is trafficking people. And if that isn't enough, someone is trying to kill Lei.

Ms Neal's secondary characters compliment the story well and help it move forward.

I had one 'aha' moment that didn't last long as Ms. Neal surprised me again with another curve in the plot. I was very surprised by the ending and I applaud Ms. Neal for making the reader think. The Lei Crime series is a must read series for any reader who likes a lot of action with surprises thrown into the mix. And remember just because a place is beautiful and tranquil like Hawaii, danger and ugliness can lurk in the background.

Buy Links:

Amazon:  Black Jasmine (Lei Crime Series)
Paperback:  Black Jasmine

~~Review for Torch Ginger by Toby Neal~~

Title: Torch Ginger
Author: Toby Neal
Publisher: Toby Neal 
Genre: Crime/Mystery/Suspense/Romance/Contemporary
Publication date: July 12, 2012
ISBN: 0-983952-44-2
Pages: 247
Series: Lei Crime Series, Book 2
Reviewer: Julianne


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.  I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed for TwoLips Reviews LLC
5, No heat 


Torch Ginger also earned a Reviewer's Choice Award

Lei Texeira transfers to the island of Kaua'i as a detective with the Kaua'i Police Department, because she needs to move on with her life after calling off her engagement to Michael Stevens. Among the lush jungle landscapes, beautiful beaches, and a culture steeped in tradition, Lei is once again pitted against an evil that is hard to comprehend.

Lei and her partner, Jack Jenkins, are investigating a series of break-ins at homes owned by Paradise Realty. A distraught woman contacts Lei about her missing boyfriend who has traveled to the beautiful island to find himself. As the two detectives delve into the man's disappearance, they uncover a meth lab and other people who have gone missing. It seems someone is taking people from the hippie population.

Lei meets the charming Alika Wolcott, who is also a real estate magnate. Lei finds herself attracted to Alika, but she can't seem to get her ex-fiance out of her mind.


Toby Neal has done it again! Torch Ginger, the second in the Lei Crime series, takes Lei on a merry chase of crime, murder, missing people, drugs, and a bizarre cult. Ms. Neal writes with such flair and finesse, bringing her characters to life. I felt as if I was right in the book, following along watching all the drama unfold. She weaves a story of deep emotions, intrigue, mystery, and a little bit of fun. The secondary characters are also mysterious, colorful and add so much to the overall story. As each new character was introduced, my mind went into overtime trying to figure if he or she was the one doing the killing.

Lei is such a kick-butt woman that it's almost too much to think of her as being somewhat vulnerable. Ms. Neal is able to get that vulnerability across with flying colors. As Lei and Alika's relationship progressed, I wasn't sure who I really wanted her to be with. I thought both Alika and Michael were sexy, hot men and would be good for Lei. Michael seemed like he was less likely to be able to let Lei go; he was still trying to get back together. Alika was a playboy and enjoyed living life. I so enjoyed Jack's character, he was so much fun and I really hope that some day he will get his own book and be happy.

The suspects in Torch Ginger were written so well that it was truly difficult to solve who the killer was. I really enjoyed reading Torch Ginger as much as I did book one, Blood Orchids. If Ms. Neal were to write 50 books in this series, I would happily read them all. If you like a good suspenseful plot, laced with some twists and turns, this book is for you.

Buy Links:
Amazon:  Torch Ginger (Lei Crime Series) 
Paperback:  Torch Ginger

~~Review for Blood Orchids by Toby Neal~~

Title: Blood Orchids
Author: Toby Neal
Publisher: Toby Neal 
Genre:  Crime/ Mystery/ Romance/ Contemporary
Publication date: November 27, 2011
ISBN: 0-983952-41-1
Pages: 314
Series:  A Lei Crime Novel, Book 1
Reviewer: Julianne


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed for TwoLips Reviews LLC
4 1/2 kisses, 1/2 pepper implied rape, implied romance

Leilani Texeira has had to overcome a lot of obstacles from her past, but she persevered and is a cop on the Hilo Police Department. While she is on patrol, Lei finds two dead teenage girls who appear to have been murdered. And one of the girls, Lei recently busted for drugs. Lei wants to solve this case and becomes obsessed with finding justice for the girls. Lei's friend Mary has also been kidnapped and murdered. Are the two related or separate cases?

Lei is also being stalked. But among all this, Lei feels herself falling for Michael Stevens who has been helping with the case. The killer is closing in and closer than Lei can imagine, but she is determined to solve it. Will Lei be able to catch the killer before the killer catches her?

I normally don't read murder/suspense books; I just don't like graphic details that would make me shudder. I was very leery of starting Blood Orchids, but I quickly found out it wasn't what I expected. Blood Orchids, the first Lei Crime Novel in a series by Toby Neal knocked my socks off. When I wasn't reading the book, I couldn't wait to get back to it—I was that caught up in the story. Ms. Neal’s descriptive writing kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what was going to happen next.

All of the characters were very three dimensional and so well written that I felt like I was part of the book. Lei was a great heroine, strong willed and determined, but also with a vulnerable side that was believable. I really admired Lei's strength and liked that she wasn't a whiny, self-centered person. Michael was a little bit more of a secret. He had his own skeletons in his closet to overcome. I would have liked just a little bit more insight to Michael.

The killer was very slick and well prepared to keep his identity a secret. Ms. Neal’s ability to create characters for the reader to place suspicion on is fantastic. I was very surprised when the killer was revealed; I never would have guessed who it was. The story flowed well and takes the reader on a wild ride of emotions, twists, turns, and lots of surprises. Blood Orchids is a debut novel for Ms. Neal and it is magnificent. I encourage everyone to read it.

I also gave Blood Orchids a Reviewer's Choice Award.

Links:
Amazon:
Blood Orchids (Lei Crime Series)
Paperback: Blood Orchids
Barnes & Noble

BMP Presents-Kirsten Weiss' The Elemental Dectective Blog Tour & Giveaway!!

Thanks for visiting my blog today. I'm hosting Kirsten Weiss' The Elemental Detective Blog Tour & Giveaway presented by Book Monster Promotions. Make sure you fill out the rafflecopter form for your chance to win. You might also want to visit the other blogs on the tour.

THE METAPHYSICAL DETECTIVE
Riga Hayworth, Book 1
October 24, 2011
Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery

Blurb:
Tarot, the Archetypes, Good Wine... and a Dog Named Dog.

When Riga Hayworth finds her new client dead, she smells a set up of metaphysical proportions. Now, to find a killer, Riga must travel from San Francisco to the underworld... and make it back alive.

Riga's client, Helen Baro, believes her husband is trying to kill her. One problem: her husband died in a car crash last year. Riga isn’t sure what to think. Is Helen mad? Is someone else trying to harm the woman? Or is this really a case of attempted murder from beyond the grave? But then Helen is found dead, leaving a strange haiku and tarot for a clue, and Riga is hurled into an investigation that threatens the detective and those she loves.

An urban fantasy based in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Metaphysical Detective explores the power of the archetypes through the double lens of tarot and Greek mythology.

Buy Links:
Amazon:
The Metaphysical Detective (A Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mystery)
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

THE ALCHEMICAL DETECTIVE
Riga Hayworth, Book 2
May 31, 2012
Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery

Blurb:
Where Alchemy, Demons, and Good Wine Collide... with a Lake Monster Named Tessie.

A psychic has been murdered in an occult ceremony and the police pay a visit to Riga Hayworth, metaphysical detective. But this time, she’s not a consultant on the case. She’s a suspect.

There’s a storm on the horizon. 

Riga’s lost her magic and has come to Lake Tahoe to recover and spend quality time with her new love. But life for Riga is never that simple. A psychic’s been murdered, and the police believe Riga has a connection to the crime. 

They’re right. 

And if that’s not enough, Riga is drafted as the host of a reality TV show about the local lake monster, and her niece is rejecting her metaphysical abilities. Juggling demons, daimons, and angry tarot card readers, Riga must catch a killer before she becomes the next target.

The Alchemical Detective is an urban fantasy exploring the world of alchemy and the imagination.

Buy Links:
Amazon:
The Alchemical Detective (A Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mystery)
Barnes & Noble
Kobo



THE SHAMANIC DETECTIVE
Riga Hayworth, Book 3
October 19, 2012
Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery

Blurb:
A Fast-paced Urban Fantasy

When Riga Hayworth’s lover is arrested, she’s determined to unearth the truth, no matter the cost. But life - and death - get in the way. 

All Riga wants is to clear the name of her almost-fiancée, Donovan Mosse. But a death faerie has other plans for her, and Riga is forced to protect a shaman with a house full of murderous relatives. The only way to stop this killer is to figure out who he, or she, is before the next strike. As the two cases become entangled, Riga must choose between facts and faith, and decide just how far she’s willing to go for love. 

The Shamanic Detective is a paranormal mystery set in Lake Tahoe, exploring shamanism, the shadow, and the world of the fae.

Buy Links:
Amazon:
The Shamanic Detective (Riga Hayworth)
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

THE INFERNAL DETECTIVE
Riga Hayworth, Book 4
Published by: Misterio Press
May 21, 2013
Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery

Blurb:
Murder. The undead. Irritating relatives.

When Riga Hayworth finds a dead body in her bedroom, it’s par for the course. When the corpse drives off with her fiancée... That’s a problem.

Riga knows dead. More intimately than she’d like. So when a murdered photographer walks away from her pre-wedding party, she believes there’s necromancy afoot. And when she discovers that several of her wedding guests are under the influence of dark magic, she’s certain. But how can she catch a killer and stop a necromancer when even her nearest and dearest are lying to her?

Marrying romance, mystery, and the metaphysical, The Infernal Detective is a fast-paced urban fantasy, where nothing is quite as it seems, and magic lies just beyond the veil.

“A high-voltage, cleverly spun mystery, that I couldn't put down. Riga Hayworth is addictive.”

- Diana Orgain, Best-selling author of The Maternal Instincts Mysteries

Buy Links:
Amazon:
The Infernal Detective (Riga Hayworth)
Barnes & Noble
Kobo

THE ELEMENTAL DETECTIVE
Riga Hayworth, Book 5
Published by: Misterio Press
December 21, 2013
Genre: Adult, Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Mystery
Word Count: 70,647

Blurb:
Mermaids, menehunes, and murder.

Riga Hayworth just wants to relax with her new husband on their Hawaiian honeymoon. But a body on a Kauai beach pulls them into a murder investigation, sending the supernatural world into an uproar. 

When Riga detects traces of magic at a murder scene, she knows she can’t ignore the call. There’s necromancy afoot, and she must prepare for the battle to come. But can Riga fight the forces of nature? Or will they destroy her and everyone she loves?

Book five in the Riga Hayworth series of paranormal mystery novels, The Elemental Detective is a fun, fast-paced urban fantasy blending romance with the supernatural, and exploring the magic of Hawaii.

Buy Links:

Amazon:

The Elemental Detective (Riga Hayworth Paranormal Mystery Novels)

Barnes & Noble
Kobo

Kirsten Weiss is the author of the Riga Hayworth paranormal mystery series: The Metaphysical Detective, The Alchemical Detective, The Shamanic Detective, The Infernal Detective, and The Elemental Detective. 

Kirsten worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and deep in the Afghan war zone.  Her experiences abroad not only gave her glimpses into the darker side of human nature, but also sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.

Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes paranormal mysteries, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem.

Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching Ghost Whisperer reruns and drinking good wine.  
You can connect with Kirsten through the social media sites below, and if the mood strikes you, send her an e-mail at kirsten_weiss2001@yahoo.com

You can connect with Kirsten on:
Website 
Twitter   
Facebook 
Google+   
Pinterest   
Amazon Page



TOUR GIVEAWAY:  US Only please
Grand prize:   Riga's mini-magick kit (including spell paper, a quartz crystal, herbs for incense, and a candle) and a signed copy of The Elemental Detective.  
US Only please

Second prize:  a purse charm plus e-copy of The Elemental Detective.  
US Only please

Third prize:   an e-copy of The Elemental Detective. US Only please.

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