Big Kindle Boogie: W-i-n a Kindle Fire plus F-r-e-e Books

WIN A KINDLE FIRE IN THE BIG KINDLE BOOGIE

10 Free Kindle Fires, 75 free ebooks, a $500 library donation. Entries for 10 free Kindle Fires are already underway at http://bigkindleboogie.blogspot.com. On Feb. 1-2, bestselling thriller authors J.A. Konrath, Blake Crouch, Scott Nicholson, Lee Goldberg, and Scott Nicholson are making 75 Kindle books free on Amazon. They are also making a $500 donation to the local library of one Kindle Fire winner. Contest is international, no purchase necessary. You can also join the Facebook party at http://www.facebook.com/BigKindleBoogie.

Three easy ways to enter:

• Use the entry counters at http://bigkindleboogie.blogspot.com
• You can also enter manually by tweeting: 10 free Kindle Fires. 75 free ebooks. http://bit.ly/xWOoKN#bigkindleboogie RT to enter for a Fire!
• You can email bigkindleboogie@yahoo.com ONCE PER DAY with "Boogie entry" as subject line

Good luck!

The Stephen King Challenge

I recently announced a new reading challenge which I am co-hosting with Kate from Read 2 Review.  The Stephen King Challenge is a perpetual reading challenge and will start on February 1, 2012.  To encourage regular reading of the books (because, let's face it, we all tend to procrastinate when there is no eminent deadline), there will be periodic mini-challenges with prizes and we will have occasional read-a-longs.  Of course, I will be participating, as well as Kate, but we will be excluded from winning any prizes, of course.  For more information about the challenge and to sign up (I hope you will), please visit the dedicated blog.

I've Been Interviewed...and SOPA

Be sure to stop by Read 2 Review and check out my interview.  Go HERE.  Thanks!

Also, be sure to support the protest of SOPA today by displaying a badge on your blog, on your social networking profile images, and/or by blacking out completely.  I elected not to black out here or at The True Book Addict, but I did write letters to my congressmen and I signed several petitions.  This issue directly affects us so let's help put a stop to it! You can visit their site by clicking the badge over in the left sidebar.

Epic Kindle Give@way--Final Day!

captioned by Michelle/The True Book Addict

Want to win a Kindle Fire? Authors Aiden James, Scott Nicholson, J. R. Rain, and H.T. Night are teaming up Jan. 11-13 to give away $1,000 in prizes, including four Kindle Fires, $200 in Amazon gift cards, and 45 free Kindle books.

There are four ways to enter during Jan. 12-13:

• Share this blog link according to the blogger’s directions
• Share our free books and event from http://epickindlegiveaway.blogspot.com
• Spread the news about our contest on your favorite Internet hangouts and the Kindle Fairy is searching and putting names in her Magic Hat

TODAY’S FREE KINDLE BOOKS

Scott Nicholson

Drummer Boy (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Red Church (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; As I Die Lying (psychological thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Creative Spirit (haunted house thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Disintegration (suspense thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Zombie Bits (zombie stories) Amazon US Amazon UK; Amazon US Amazon UK; Speed Dating with the Dead Amazon US Amazon UK; The Skull Ring Amazon US Amazon UK; Scott Nicholson Library, Vol. 4 Amazon US Amazon UK; October Girls (YA paranormal) Amazon US Amazon UK

H.T. Night
A Boy's Life (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK; Boy Meets Girl (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK; Everlasting Love (Poetry) Amazon US Amazon UK; Getting Yours (Romantic Comedy) Amazon US Amazon UK; Paranormal Love Stories (Vampire/Werewolf Love Story) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Werewolf Whisperer (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Vampire Love Story (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Winning Sarah’s Heart: Back to School (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Winning Sarah’s Heart: Boys Being boys (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK 

J.R. Rain
BAD BLOOD - A Vampire Thriller Amazon US Amazon UK; BLACK RAIN: 15 Short Stories Amazon US Amazon UK; ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING - A murder mystery Amazon US Amazon UK; JUDAS SILVER - An adventure screenplay Amazon US Amazon UK; LOST EDEN - An adventure screenplay Amazon US Amazon UK; THE BODY DEPARTED - A ghost story Amazon US Amazon UK; THE VAMPIRE CLUB - supernatural fantasy comedy Amazon US Amazon UK; THE VAMPIRE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO -mystery novella Amazon US Amazon UK

Aiden James
Aiden James Vampires (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK; Cursed Immortals (Supernatural Thriller/Vampires) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Raven Mocker (Horror/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK; Deadly Night (Murder mystery/Supernatural) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Forgotten Eden (Supernatural Thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Twice Bitten (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK

If one of the four authors hits #1 on the Kindle Free list, they will give away another Kindle Fire. If at any time during the event, the four authors hold all the Top 10 slots on the Kindle Free list, they will give away a sixth kindle. Kindle Fire winners will be selected by the Watauga County (NC) Public Library staff using random.org.

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To my visitiors...share this post on any social networking site or your blog and come back and leave me the links in the comments.  If you post on Twitter, be sure to include #epickindlegiveaway in your tweet.  Don't forget to include your email address with your comment.  Easy peasy! Good luck!

Epic Kindle Give@way--Day Two

Want to win a Kindle Fire? Authors Aiden James, Scott Nicholson, J. R. Rain, and H.T. Night are teaming up Jan. 11-13 to give away $1,000 in prizes, including four Kindle Fires, $200 in Amazon gift cards, and 45 free Kindle books.

There are several ways to enter during Jan. 12-13:

• Share this blog link according to the blogger’s directions
• Share our free books and event from http://epickindlegiveaway.blogspot.com
• Spread the news about our contest on your favorite Internet hangouts and the Kindle Fairy is searching and putting names in her Magic Hat

TODAY’S FREE KINDLE BOOKS

Scott Nicholson
The Red Church (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; As I Die Lying (psychological thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Creative Spirit (haunted house thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Disintegration (suspense thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Zombie Bits (zombie stories) Amazon US Amazon UK; Duncan the Punkin (children’s book) Amazon US Amazon UK; Speed Dating with the Dead Amazon US Amazon UK; The Skull Ring (suspense thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Scott Nicholson Library, Vol. 4 Amazon US; Amazon UK; GHOST COLLEGE - A supernatural mystery Amazon US Amazon UK; CURSED urban fantasy Amazon US Amazon UK; BAD BLOOD - A Vampire Thriller Amazon US Amazon UK Transparent Lovers (paranormal mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK; Head Cases (psych thriller stories) Amazon US Amazon UK Solom Amazon UK

Aiden James
Aiden James Vampires (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK; Cursed Immortals (Supernatural Thriller/Vampires) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Vampires’ Birthright (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK; Cades Cove (Horror/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK; Vampire Twist (Vampire adventure/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Raven Mocker (Horror/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK; Deadly Night (Murder mystery/Supernatural) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Forgotten Eden (Supernatural Thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Twice Bitten (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK

J.R. Rain
ARTHUR - A modern-day spiritual adventure Amazon US Amazon UK; BAD BLOOD - A Vampire Thriller Amazon US Amazon UK; BLACK RAIN: 15 Short Stories Amazon US Amazon UK; CURSED - Supernatural horror thriller Amazon US Amazon UK; DARK QUESTS: Two Adventure Screenplays Amazon US Amazon UK; ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING - A murder mystery Amazon US Amazon UK; GHOST COLLEGE - A supernatural mystery Amazon US Amazon UK; JUDAS SILVER - An adventure screenplay
Amazon US Amazon UK; LOST EDEN - An adventure screenplay Amazon US Amazon UK; THE LOST ARK - An adventure novel Amazon US; THE BODY DEPARTED - A ghost story Amazon US Amazon UK; THE VAMPIRE CLUB - supernatural fantasy comedy
Amazon US Amazon UK; THE VAMPIRE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO -mystery novella Amazon US Amazon UK

H.T. Night
A Boy's Life (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK; Boy Meets Girl (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK; Everlasting Love (Poetry) Amazon US Amazon UK; Getting Yours (Romantic Comedy) Amazon US Amazon UK; Paranormal Love Stories (Vampire/Werewolf Love Story) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Werewolf Whisperer (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Vampire Love Story (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Winning Sarah’s Heart: Back to School (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Winning Sarah’s Heart: Boys Being boys (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK 

If one of the four authors hits #1 on the Kindle Free list, they will give away another Kindle Fire. If at any time during the event, the four authors hold all the Top 10 slots on the Kindle Free list, they will give away a sixth kindle. Winners will be selected after the contest by the Watauga County (NC) Public Library using random.org.

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To my visitiors...share this post on any social networking site or your blog and come back and leave me the links in the comments.  Easy peasy! Good luck!

Epic Kindle Give@way!

Want to win a Kindle Fire? Authors Aiden James, Scott Nicholson, J. R. Rain, and H.T. Night are teaming up Jan. 11-13 to give away $1,000 in prizes, including four Kindle Fires, $200 in Amazon gift cards, and 45 free Kindle books.

There are four ways to enter during Jan. 11-13:

• Share this blog link on social media according to blogger’s directions
• Follow the authors on Facebook (J.R. Rain, H.T. Night, Aiden James, and Scott Nicholson) and look for "Click to share" posts
• Follow Ereader News Today on Facebook and click to share their free book bundles
• Go to their free books on Amazon, click "like" and then "share" each book on Twitter and Facebook, using the hashtags “free for #kindle” and “#epickindlegiveaway”

TODAY’S FREE KINDLE BOOKS (Click the Amazon links beside each title)

H.T. Night
A Boy's Life (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK; Boy Meets Girl (Young Adult) Amazon US Amazon UK; Everlasting Love (Poetry) Amazon US Amazon UK; Getting Yours (Romantic Comedy) Amazon US Amazon UK; Paranormal Love Stories (Vampire/Werewolf Love Story) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Werewolf Whisperer (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Vampire Love Story (Vampire Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Winning Sarah’s Heart: Back to School (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Winning Sarah’s Heart: Boys Being boys (YA Romance) Amazon US Amazon UK; Vampires and Werewolves Beginnings (Vampire Romance) Amazon US

Scott Nicholson
The Red Church (supernatural thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; As I Die Lying (psychological thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Creative Spirit (haunted house thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Disintegration (suspense thriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Harvest (technothriller) Amazon US Amazon UK; Zombie Bits (zombie stories) Amazon US Amazon UK; Transparent Lovers (paranormal mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK

J.R. Rain
ARTHUR - A modern-day spiritual adventure Amazon US Amazon UK; BLACK RAIN: 15 Short Stories Amazon US Amazon UK; CURSED - Supernatural horror thriller Amazon US Amazon UK; DARK QUESTS: Two Adventure Screenplays Amazon US Amazon UK; ELVIS HAS NOT LEFT THE BUILDING - A murder mystery Amazon US Amazon UK; GHOST COLLEGE - A supernatural mystery Amazon US Amazon UK; THE LOST ARK - An adventure novel Amazon US; THE VAMPIRE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO -mystery novella Amazon US Amazon UK

Aiden James
Aiden James Vampires (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK; Cursed Immortals (Supernatural Thriller/Vampires) Amazon US Amazon UK; The Vampires’ Birthright (Vampire adventure) Amazon US Amazon UK; Cades Cove (Horror/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK; Vampire Twist (Vampire adventure/Mystery) Amazon US Amazon UK

If one of the four authors hits #1 on the Kindle Free list, they will give away another Kindle Fire. If at any time during the event, the four authors hold all the Top 10 slots on the Kindle Free list, they will give away a sixth kindle. The bonus Kindle winners will be selected using the #epickindlegiveaway hashtags on Facebook and Twitter.

The Facebook and Twitter hashtags must accompany a link to one of the free books, a participating book blog, or the contest home page at http://epickindlegiveaway.blogspot.com or it won’t count as a valid entry. Thanks, good luck, and enjoy the free books!
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Book Tours: Guest Post--Georgia Cates, author of Blood of Anteros

When an author writes, they have visions and they choose their words carefully to portray images to their readers. Success depends on many variables, but adjectives eliciting the five senses are most important and I have chosen to share some of the images I used when visualizing my characters and setting.

Photo 1: An excerpt describing the house facing the beach in Blood of Anteros:
I stopped to study the house, a white, two-story Greek Revival with a raised basement. The three dormers and windows were adorned with black shutters and a double staircase descended from the center of the raised porch. The pair of staircases curved toward one other, resembling two open arms, welcoming me home.
The landscaping was different; it was better, and great care had been taken in the tending of the yard. The Live Oaks I had planted along the drive and property had matured and they stood over one hundred feet tall, providing the house with the much needed shield from the hot, coastal sun.
The house had diligently stood strong and proud against the anger of the sea and defiantly survived the hurricanes and storms that attempted to erase it’s existence. I knew this well because I had once called this home. I lived here more than one hundred and sixty years ago and while cruel circumstances had forced my unplanned departure, destiny had commanded my return.

Photo 2: An excerpt describing the appearance of Curry Brennan:
I looked at the stranger in the mirror staring back at me and wondered who he was. His image stood just under six feet tall and his hair was dark, nearly black, like his heart. I leaned closer to the reflection, attempting to see a glimpse of myself within the monster standing in front of me and searched his eyes, the so-called windows to the soul. I looked beyond the flecks of light blue and gold of his irises, but found no trace of the soul I was told no longer existed and wondered, “Who is this demon mocking my every move?”

Photo 3: An excerpt describing the eyes of Chansey Leclaire:
I studied her flawless ivory skin and rosy glow. Her lips were full and stained a shade of deep scarlet and I was surprised when I didn’t find Anna’s crystal blue eyes or Grady’s deep brown. Her eyes were her own, a beautiful hazel with greens, browns, and golds fighting for dominance in each iris. She wore a fuchsia shirt, so green was winning today.

Georgia Cates Links:  Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Purchase Blood of Anteros:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Smashwords
iBooks

Book Trailer:
http://youtu.be/_LbJpi3vEOA

Book Tour: Blood of Anteros by Georgia Cates--Review and Give@way

First, I would like to apologize to Bewitching Book Tours, and to the author, for my late posting of this review.  I've had some personal issues in the past week and was only able to finish reading the book today.

My thoughts:
Even after finishing this book, I'm really not quite sure how I feel about it.  It is a good story and the premise is really something different.  However, there are certain elements that I can't help but compare to the Twilight series and True Blood (the television series, since I still have not read the books) series.  Curry Brennan, like Edward Cullen and Bill Compton, is a tormented vampire who can't quite reconcile his vampire existence.  He continues to see himself as a monster, even if he has changed and become a 'good' vampire.  So, as can be expected, he is not keen on turning anyone into a vampire, including the woman he loves.  And, of course, since there is a love interest, he is fiercely protective of her and will stop at nothing to protect her, even if it means leaving her.  Sound familiar?  With all this said, I still can't say that I didn't enjoy Blood of Anteros.  As I mentioned, the concept behind the Vampire Agape series is very interesting.  It's actually a new idea behind a vampire being drawn to a human, which is somewhat refreshing.  It's not like a past life thing, which has been done.  It's totally different.  I won't go into details because I don't want to spoil the book for other readers.  Another complaint I have with the book is that it could have used some editing to correct some missing words and some extraneous words.  Also, there were points when the dialogue was very stiff.  An overuse of 'are not' instead of 'aren't', and other similar usage contributed to that effect.  Overall though, Blood of Anteros is an interesting read and I am intrigued to read the next book to see what happens.

Blood of Anteros 
By Georgia Cates

Book Description-
Cruel circumstances turned Curry Brennan into the wretched monster he hates and refuses to accept, but when an expected turn of events releases him from the bond of his obsessive maker, he returns to the home he knew 161 years earlier and finds the return of happiness and joy in something he didn’t know existed. 

Puzzled by his growing attraction to Chansey Leclaire, a human, he is unable to resist the captivating relationship that threatens to reveal his existence as a vampire. He eventually discovers the reason he was destined to find what he didn’t know he searched for and is faced with the cruel realization that the living and the immortal undead will always be separated by one thing. Eternity.

Brief Excerpt-
I was tantalized by mystery of her. The leech inside me came out to find prey, but found none in this enigmatic girl. The close proximity of her essence didn’t entice the monster within, so what did that make her? I had more questions than answers, but one thing was unmistakable; although she released me from her embrace, her hold on me remained.

Amazon Smashwords

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/_LbJpi3vEOA

About the Author:

In addition to being an author Georgia is a wife, mother of two daughters and a labor and delivery nurse. 

She recently added Paranormal Romance Writer to her list of things that keep her busy, but she is ecstatic to release her debut novel, Blood of Anteros, the first book in The Vampire Agápe Series. 

Like others that enjoy a great story of paranormal romance, she is easily bored by the tale of an obtainable, ordinary romance and was inspired to create The Vampire Agápe Series. When not tied up with family or delivering babies, she is working feverishly on the second book in The Vampire Agápe Series.

Links-

http://georgiacates.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Georgia-Cates/213130102082500
http://twitter.com/#!/GeorgiaCates

Giveaway:
One entrant will win an eBook copy (format of your choice) of Blood of Anteros.  Open to everyone.  Please leave a comment and include your email address.  You do not have to be a follower, but followers will receive an extra entry.  Giveaway will end on Monday, January 16 at 11:59pm CST.  Good luck!

Happy New Year and my 2011 Best of Horror/Speculative Fiction

New Year Happy Dance!

I only read about six or seven horror/speculative fiction titles this year which I know will increase in the new year now that this blog is up and running.  Out of what I read in the genre, these were my favorites, in no particular order, with the exception of number one.  You can click on the titles to read my reviews.

1.  Jane Was Here by Sarah Kernochan--gritty and honest, my favorite in the genre in 2011.

2.  Nightwalker by Lisa Kessler--I'm not a big paranormal romance fan, but when Lisa, who I had been friends with and had followed her writing journey (and reading her wonderful short stories) for a few years, finally got her first novel published, I had to read it.  I was not disappointed.  Lisa is such a great writer and the romance parts of her book are not so much in your face (like others).  Can't wait for the next book!

3.  Dust by Joan Frances Turner--zombies...with a conscience.  What else can I say?

4.  Danny Marble and the Application for Non-Scary Things by Jessica McHugh--a middle grade book with a great story that touched on themes of bullying and childhood fears.

5.  Bag of Bones by Stephen King--this was actually a re-read for me and this is one of my favorite books by SK.  If you haven't read it, you really should.  I looked so forward to the mini-series, which aired in December on A&E.  Unfortunately, it was a major disappointment.

Also, wanted to mention read-a-thon plans for this year:

Many of my friends and followers look forward to my four seasonal read-a-thons, which I started in the Fall of 2010.  My winter read-a-thon is scheduled for next month, A Winter's Respite Read-a-Thon 2012 (details HERE).  Since my Frightful Fall Read-a-Thon, which I hosted here in October, was such a success, I've decided to make my Spring Read-a-Thon a spooky themed read-a-thon.  That way I'll have two scary themed read-a-thons a year hosted at Castle Macabre.  What do you think?  What about a name...tell me which of these you like best in the comments:

Spooky Spring Read-a-thon at Castle Macabre

Spring into Horror Read-a-Thon at Castle Macabre 

Spring is Scary Read-a-Thon at Castle Macabre

If you have any other suggestions for a name, feel free to leave them in the comments as well.

Thank you for being a follower of Castle Macabre! I appreciate you all and I wish you a happy and prosperous (and scary...for you major horror fans) new year!