The Antrim Cycle: October 2016

Monday, October 31, 2016

WAPAT update!

Check out the latest updates from the FB WAPAT group on Angelique's blog!

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Book Review: Sisters of Spirit by Annette Blair, Christine Mazurk, Lynn Jenssen, Jeanine Duval Spikes

This anthology is about four women who each have a spiritual dimension that aligns with each other,

making them sisters and friends for life. They spend time together on an island off the coast of New England. Once day a trip to a secret beach yields finds that set each of the woman on different paths.
One woman, Marina, is losing touch with her husband until a crisis occurs in their lives. Bryce has lost a lot of weight, but lacks confidence in her new self until a sexy trainer decides to help her train for triathlons. Clara is a researcher who has found an ancient Indian treasure and must decide if she can trust the archeologist she's working for. And quirky Anastasia must help a reclusive man find his way back to life once more without losing her heart.
I enjoyed each story very much. They are just the right length and a good combination of romance and women's literature. I'm very glad I heard about this book and will read moe by the four authors.

Link to Amazon

Friday, October 28, 2016

Halloween Hop

"We are Monster Mashing our way through this holiday weekend with Books in Vacationland Halloween Hop. So park your broomsticks at the door and come sit for a spell. Enter to #win ebook copy of The Antrim Cycle boxset just LIKE this page & post, then comment below "Trick or Treat" when you are done.

Be sure to ride on over to Betty Bolte's page (http://www.facebook.com/authorbettybolte) for another treat and don't forget to enter to win the grand prize below. If you get lost you can find the complete list of stops athttp://www.facebook.com/booksinvacationland

#BIV2017 #Halloweenhop"

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, October 27, 2016

New Release and Review: Salt in the Water by S.Cushaway and J. Ray

Blurb: There are a thousand ways to die in the desert-- desperate outlaws, deadly predators, murderous elements, and betrayal. . .
Kaitar Besh, a veteran scout as legendary for his cynicism as his skills, is ordered to brave the deadly Shy'war-Anquai desert one last time. Escorting Leigh Enderi-- a greenhorn Enforcer with a reputation as shady as his own-- he soon realizes the ghosts of his past have come to haunt more than his nightmares.

When the mission breaks down in the wake of bitter hatred and mistrust, even Kaitar's fabled skills may not be enough to bring them home again. Stranded in the red wasteland without contact, food, or water, they uncover a betrayal that could bring all they hold dear crumbling to the dust. . . and tear down the wall of lies surrounding them.

Review: Salt in the Water is one of the best dark Science Fiction books I've read in some years. Kaitar Besh is an Enforcer, one of the few who roam the desert trying to keep the peace in a world full of violence and cruelty. When he and Leigh Endari, a rookie Enforcer, are sent on a mission to find a missing fellow Enforcer, everything goes wrong that could go wrong. It doesn't help that the two mistrust each other from longstanding ethnic hatreds or there are multiple dangers in the desert threatening them at any moment.

The story progresses through the happenstances of various characters, both back at the town and those who the Enforcers encounter on the mission. There are some truly evil people, others who are just trying to get by, some who've been trodden upon, and pretty much the span of human existence. Yet the authors have finely drawn each personality. Even those you end up hating are indelibly etched upon your mind and I found myself reliving the story over and over.

Kaitar is a mystery that you want to solve. Hints of his prior existence are woven in throughout the book, each piece adding to the puzzle of the man and leaving you, the reader, wanting more.

The worldbuilding is just excellent. As you read, you can feel the grit in your mouth from blowing sand, or the fear engendered by the threks tracking across the desert. (Not telling what a threk is as I don't want to spoil it).

I was lucky enough to get an ARC copy of Salt in the Water in exchange for an honest review. I begged and got an ARC copy of Ghost in the Glass, the next book, because this series is sooooo good.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Book Review: Heart of Winter by James Hartley

Heart of Winter is a short story that is also the prequel to a new series called Shakespeare's Moon. This takes place during World War II outside of London. A young girl, Enid, has been found wandering down a bombed street and taken in by an elderly couple. They decide to enroll her in boarding school where she'll be safer. St. Francis de Sales School is also being used as a hospital as Enid arrives.
Almost immediately odd happenings occur and Enid is at the center of them. This is a dark story with a Gothic feel. The headmaster, Mr. Dedalus, is eccentric but appealing. Enid is a bit of a brat at the beginning of the story, but I found that she grew on me as the story progressed.
The next book in the series is based on Macbeth. Each book will be based on a different Shakespeare play and takes place at St. Francis which is an excellent premise. I'll look forward to reading it.

Link to Amazon

Monday, October 24, 2016

The Grey Eyed Storm: The Occuli, Book One (The Occuli Book Series 1) by Christie Stenzel

BLURB:

A captivating, supernatural fantasy novel about a race of people with magical powers depending on the color of their eyes, who are fighting for their very survival against evil forces that want to extinguish them and take their powers and their land for themselves!

DESCRIPTION:

Imagine the shock of being eighteen year old Remy Verbetta and finding out that you are not only not "human", but also are not from this “world”. Remy’s life is turned upside down when she suddenly finds out her entire life has been a lie. Another “world” is living and breathing along-side our own, a kind of alternate dimension. On her eighteenth birthday, Remy finds out that she is not “human”, but rather a member of an ancient and almost extinct race called the Occuli. Each Occuli has different magical powers based solely their eye color.

A multiple award-winning supernatural, fantasy novel, The Grey Eyed Storm: The Occuli, Book One, follows Remy on a journey of self-discovery, magic, mystery, romance and betrayal, as she tries to figure out a way to not only survive, but also find a way back to her true home and save the Occuli from extinction!

Link to Amazon

BIO for Christie M. Stenzel:

Writing and reading are my passions! My dream to be a writer began, when as a five year old child I would ask my mother to write down the stories I would make up about talking dogs.

Since growing up and becoming further educated with a Bachelor's Degree in English (I have an affinity for classic literature), a Master's Degree in Leadership, and a degree in ultrasound, I have begun to pursue that dream in hopes of one day making it my career. I have many interests and ideas so my ultimate goal is to release works of fiction in multiple genres. Fantasy will always be my first love however, as I have always had an intense imagination that threatens to inundate me if not expelled onto paper.

I currently have five published books: an ongoing fantasy series with three installments so far (the fourth book is coming in December 2016), a fantasy short story, and a suspense/thriller short story. The first book in my fantasy series, The Grey Eyed Storm: The Occuli, Book One, has now won multiple awards which is very exciting. Aside from writing, I enjoy physical activities like running and yoga. I am blessed to have an amazing family, close friends and two beloved canine companions.

Contact info:

Series website: www.theocculi.com

Author website: info49133.wix.com/christiemstenzel

Facebook Fan Page: Christie Stenzel: Author,

Facebook Page: Christie M. Stenzel

Twitter Handle: @CStenzelWriter

New Author App: Upland United

Productivity: Self-Publishing; Directory

Looking for an editor or content creator near you? With Upland United it is really easy to find book professionals who are ready to work on your publishing needs. You have an option to browse among a large number of profiles of publishing professionals and know their past user reviews. With this, it becomes really easy to find the best suited talent for your job. Whether you are looking specifically for an Editor, Illustrator or tradeshow events, you can find it all within the categories on our app. Bookmark professionals whom you like so you can easily access them later.

As a professional, you can subscribe and create a profile on “Upland United” to showcase your services, connect with new and existing clients, and build your business for the better. Additionally, professionals get user reviews. You get a chance to improve your skills based on user feedback and reviews.

To help writers, we also have services like marketing, tradeshows, etc. Writers can browse through these services to aid their writing career and book these services in app. They can meet new authors in their area and get inspired. With Upland United, we are building a social networking community among writers. The app also includes a check-in feature where-in you can tell your friends where you are located.

I am a serial entrepreneur, author, creative visionary for young entrepreneurs and owner of Upland Avenue Productions – a diverse portfolio of publishing, media, and technology properties. I have made strides in the realms of economic and social responsibility by launching a literary networking platform to bridge the relationship between the film, literary and journalism industries. This platform fostered new relationships with leaders in the state of Louisiana, as well as, placed indie writers in front of industry insiders and fellow peers.

I partnered with Barnes & Noble for children reading initiatives, assisted youth in developing and launching their businesses through the Young Entrepreneurship Initiative and launched the first on rail reading book club in New Mexico through a collaborative partnership with NM Rail Runner Express.

My most recent endeavor involved bridging the gap between authors and the professionals they need to publish literary works. This resulted in the creation of Upland United – an app that allows writers to collaborate with publishing professionals on their terms.

I speak at conferences on subjects such as literary distribution, book marketing and analytics. If you would like to reach me about speaking engagements you can email me at info@uplandavenueproductions.com

Contact Information

Purchase Link

GIVEAWAY

2 Die Cut stickers + 5 bookmarks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Book Review: Craving Flight by Tamsen Parker

When I first read the blurb for this book, I really wondered how the author was going to pull this off. I'll recap the blurb here so you can see what I mean:

Tzipporah Berger is thirty-seven and single, which is practically unheard of in the Orthodox Jewish community she now calls home. Her increasing religiosity and need for kink may have broken up her first marriage, but she’s decided it’s time to try again. And the rabbi’s wife has just the man in mind.
Elan Klein is the neighborhood butcher whose intimidating size and gruff manner hint at a deliciously forceful personality. But BDSM isn’t exactly something you discuss during an Orthodox courtship. Will a marriage to Elan solidify her place in the community that she loves and provide the domination and pain Tzipporah craves or will she forever have to rely on flights of fancy to satisfy her needs?

So Orthodox Judaism and BDSM? Yet this is a terrific story, beautifully written and extremely well researched. Tzipporah's neighborhood and neighbors are described realistically. I know only a little about this religion, but I learned a lot. That also goes for the BDSM lifestyle; I thought the two would be incompatible, but found that the author managed to intertwine both concepts into a wonderful book.
This is a quick read, but I feel that I will be thinking about it for some time. I definitely want to read other books by this author. I was given the book and choose to give an honest review.

Link to Amazon

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Book Review: My Wild Irish Dragon by Ashlyn Chase

Ryan Fierro and Chloe Arish are both competing for the same slot in the Boston Fire Department. Each is uniquely suited to the job of a firefighter as he is a phoenix shifter and she is a dragon shifter. Fortunately, the budget is expanded so they both get jobs. Now they just have to figure out how to not let their attraction to each other get in the way of their work.
I read paranormal, but usually with vampires or wolf shifters. This was a first and while I was a little disappointed that the shifter parts weren't emphasized, I still found this an interesting and well-written story. In some ways, it could just be a romance about an Irish girl and Italian boy from Boston. The secondary characters are fun and the romance is cute and a bit steamy. All in all, a fun read.

Link to Amazon

Monday, October 17, 2016

Virtual FantasyCon 2016- 3rd Place Favorite Fantasy Blogger

Virtual FantasyCon 2016 has just concluded and I'm thrilled to announce that the Antrim Cycle blog was selected for 3rd Place. This has been a wonderful event, and I truly appreciate all who voted for my blog. So please continue to read and see you at Virtual FantasyCon 2017!

Sunday, October 16, 2016

Book Review: The Saxon Bride by Ashley York

John is a Norman who is given a young Saxon bride by William the Conqueror. Rowena's family has been destroyed by the Norman invasion of England and she is unprepared to marry the Norman knight, no matter how handsome he is. John leaves right after the ceremony to fight for his king for the next three years, leaving his virgin bride behind.
John finally shows back up to do his duty, but Rowena is unhappy. Meanwhile, John must win over the conquered Saxons and appease his bride. There are a lot of misunderstandings before all is resolved.
The story is well-written and I enjoy books set in this period. And while it is true that knights were often away for long periods of time in this era, I found it made me wonder just how in love John and Rowena could actually be. They spent very little time together to actually get to know each other. It made the lust understandable, but I would have liked to have seen more actual dialogue between the two main characters.
I would rate this 3 1/2 stars because of that, but this is still a good story and I'll read more in the series.

Link to Amazon

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Have some applesauce from Applegate Farm!

Just kidding - this recipe is actually from New England Today, but you could make it from the apples in Antrim, Maine or elsewhere.

Orchard Applesauce

This homemade applesauce recipe is great eaten straight from the jar, or pair with grilled pork chops or potato cakes.

Total Time: 30
Yield: 4 cups

Ingredients

8 assorted apples (mix of any varieties)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 cup sweet apple cider
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cinnamon stick
2 tablespoons apple or pear brandy (optional)

Instructions

Peel and core apples; cut into big chunks. In a medium-size saucepan, toss apples with lemon juice. Add cider, sugar, and cinnamon; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes. Discard cinnamon. Mash to the consistency you prefer. Stir in brandy. Cool to room temperature; then cover and refrigerate.

https://newengland.com/today/food/orchard-applesauce/ Check out New England Today for other great information about New England.

Monday, October 10, 2016

Book Release and Excerpt: The Blink of Oenomel by Jeremy T Ringfield

New Adult, Romance, Coming of Age

Date Published: September 26, 2016

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There is trouble in Valdosta, Georgia. And a whole lot of it.

Abram, a methodical 23 year-old, previously homeless, hopeless romantic, has a fierce devotion to his rendezvous with love, which is seemingly not on his schedule of life. Jec, an unassuming 19 year-old feminist and natural optimist, entertains her current relationship and search for a forever kind of love that is threatened by both, what her co-workers see in Abram that she refuses to believe, as well as what she does not see: Abram’s last seventeen minutes in jail before they met.

Everything around her tells her that her obsession with dragging out what Abram offers in their courtship will end in turmoil, but something about him keeps her coming back for more, leading her to a series of exchanged love letters that do not quite make sense, at least to everyone else. Just what makes sense for her is something hidden in her past, which nobody else may ever discover as far as she is concerned. Her stubborn focus leaves no room for distractions from the masses, and she does not want to hear it.

On the other hand, Abram has a secret he is adamant about keeping that way. He enrolls into college and moves into the apartments that Jec is employed by with his refund check to get off of the streets, catching a glance from the beautiful receptionist that would present an opportunity he had not seen before. Little did he know, his transition from his tent in the forest would be one from jail to his first room in almost two years. The jail cell talk without any cameras around to record make his last seventeen minutes in the pen with a sketchy bunkmate a do or die conversation that may explain why he became homeless, why he wrote the love letters in the first place, and if both were random at all.

Briefly mild erotica at maximum. Few brief sexual innuendos.

Excerpt

Chapter 9

The same day in August, 2015

I think, for the price of a pizza, the experience of the novel is priceless.

A literary ecstasy, this was not a book I wanted to lend. I had to have it.

My co-worker interjects my thoughts, “Is that lighter fluid? What is he burning out there in our fire pit? I’m telling you Jec, that dude killed somebody. You haven’t seen him around as long as I have. The way he’s always scrunching his face, looking like a stone cold killer with all that stinking thinking. Some people struggle with who they really are. And when it goes foul, you know they don’t always catch these people.”

He picks up and holds out the book I am reading titled Wait For You, and says, “Some novels you have to read twice to really see all the beauty in the nuances, but these plots don’t always end beautifully Jec. You should start reading more of them.”

I take a bite out of an apple and stop scratching my thumb across a squiggled smear on my permanent marker to look out the window as I reply to my front desk co-receptionist, “Bobby, you’re being ridiculous. It just looked like he pulled some papers from a box and threw them into the pit. Hey, where’d he go?”

Bobby answers quickly, “No really, have you seen him using his hands on the street? He’s probably practicing some lethal judo that nobody knows right now. Hi-yah!—”

Ding-Ding.

At the sound of the front door bell I tried to smother my giggle in professionalism, but I no longer found it necessary to suppress as the blurry silhouette of the person entering the front door became clear and my laughter came to a sudden halt.

It is the guy from the fire pit of whom Bobby was just joking about that is now approaching the front desk where I sit, and my heart rate begins to decrease as I feel the baritone boomp-boomp in my chest getting slower. But I cannot not look away, for he looks as if he got ran over by a train this morning from this closer view and I am not sure what is about to happen next.

I think, have we not already asked what of vanity is so serious? Or is our ultra-modern scientific understanding unresponsive to the inward call of good will? Does it need a new face?

But there is something underneath the wreckage that is dark, and handsome. I’ve got a secret thing for bad boys, and this one looks like just the right amount of danger.

I inhale a deep slow breath of air just before he begins to speak.

“May I ask for the keys of the apartment I am renting please? Here is my check. My name is Abram Wedger and I am two weeks late from my move-in date.”

I let out a long slow breath.

He is gazing directly into my eyes and for a brief moment I felt I knew.

“Of course” I tell him, and then proceed to retrieve the keys to his apartment in the file cabinet. As I turn in my chair, I clumsily knock the pen holder onto the floor, scattering a few pens and pencils. I blush, then kneel to the floor, placing a knee on the ground as I pick up the utensils that are nearer to my front foot. I hastily return the pen holder to the counter trying to save face before walking to the back office and realizing one of my earrings fell out of my ear.

What is wrong with me?

When I return, he is still standing in the exact same spot, facing in the exact same direction, as if stoic in time, space, and emotion. I swiftly pick my earring up off the floor, and place it into my ear lobe.

As I go to hand him his key and re-washable cup, I remind him that “the lobby coffee is free”, and he glances at my name tag.

I lazily connect my last sentence with the next, saying “Jec, for short”.

He pauses, then shakes his head and asks “What if I want to call you something different?”

I meet his eyes with a stare of my own, slow to respond, blink, and say “It will be okay Abram.” His face scrunches for a moment and his eyes look as though he is wondering straight through me. My glance falls deeper into the hole of an eye, and I see a marble in the night, the dark side of a full moon, which can be plucked right out of the sky to place a piece of the void heaven filled should I grab it and tuck it into my pocket.

The ascension falling as the walls collapse to drop a cloud in his ear, a long fiber weaves my wonder, wherefore out there did he discover?

And I conceived a thought of a single droplet, enough months from now, falling into a gravitationally absent drip time has lost, and him not.

Before I can tell if he eased his facial expression, he walks off keys in hand without another word.

“See, I told you. Killer” Bobby says flatly, and I just return to checking my emails.

About the Author

Jeremy lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He grew up in the south Atlanta area, where he eventually earned a football scholarship to Duke University. After experiencing enough life to form his own opinions, he enjoys sharing some with friends, reading, watching fantasy thriller and romance films, listening to music, and jogging when he is not writing.

He writes new adult fiction.

Jeremy would love to hear from you. Follow him on Twitter @JTRingfield, friend him on Facebook, or visit his webpage at www.jeremytringfield.com

Contact Links

Purchase Links

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Virtual FantasyCon on Facebook Oct 9 - 16!

October 9th - 16th

On Facebook - join authors, bloggers, readers, panels, cosplayers, and readers with lots of giveaways, games, and hijinks!

I'll have a booth on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday so come visit and be sure to check out the other booths!

Sun, October 9th - Epic/Sword & Sorcery (Includes High Fantasy)

Mon, October 10th - Sci-Fi/Sci-Fantasy/Time-Travel

Tue, October 11th - Fairytale/Punk (Includes all versions of Punk)

Wed, October 12th - Paranormal/Urban

Thu, October 13th - Series/Short Stories (Includes all subgenres of Fantasy Series & Collections/Anthologies of Short Stories)

Fri, October 14th - Dystopian/Apocalyptic

Sat, October 15th - Dark/GrimDark/Horror

Sun, October 16th - Children/YA Fantasy

Blog Hop Hunt Booth

Authors Cache Sale Booth

Cosplay Booth

Author Panel Discussion

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Book Review: Alive at Sunset by Kayla Krantz

Alive at Sunset is the second book in the Rituals of the Night YA Paranormal series. Luna has lived through the terror and death of Dead by Morning (Book 1) and has just finished up a semester at her college. Three years have passed since the events that occurred in high school and Luna, while still a loner and overachiever, has a new roommate, Amanda, and is trying to move on.
Her nemesis, Chance, is still in a coma though Luna's friend Max tries to warn her that something is wrong and changes are coming. Luna tries to ignore him, but when things start to go wrong in her life, there can only be one person responsible.
I enjoyed the story. It's a good follow-up to the events of Dead by Morning. Some issues are resolved from the first book and Chance comes across as a much more sympathetic figure (if you can believe it). I found the first part a little slow, but then the action picks up and doesn't stop.
I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see what's next for Luna. I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Link to Amazon

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Book Release: The Reflection of Innocence by John Tolliver

Literary Fiction, Paranormal Fiction, Historical Fiction, Metaphysical Fiction

Date Published: February 2016

If you could see the memories of every person you met would it be a blessing or a curse?

John Calabrace's life has been in havoc since he was a very small child. He spends his life fighting through a flood of memories, most of which are not his own. The second he is touched by another person, he knows every memory & feeling they have ever experienced, and those memories stay permanently etched in his head.

What might seem to be a wonderful gift to some, also has its dark sides. John flees college, finding solace in the Navy serving on a Navy ship and then aboard a nuclear submarine. That relative peace and isolation of submarine life is quickly taken away after being extracted and recruited into a world of espionage to unlock other secrets from around the world.

Is he an angel, is he a monster? Even the military men/ government handlers can't decide. While John may know everyone else's secrets, he also has secrets of his own. Those he feels, he can reveal to no one..

About the Author

John Tolliver has spent his career in the world of nuclear engineering.. After college John joined the Navy where he served aboard the fast attack submarine USS Jacksonville where he acquired his love of travel and adventure. John followed his Navy years with a 30+ year career in Nuclear chemistry. John also volunteers as an arbitrator and mediator in the New York State courts. His passions include writing, researching and travel. Having given up on submarine travel decades ago, John still enjoys the sea life with the grand modern luxury of the Celebrity Cruises fleet.

Contact Links

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Monday, October 3, 2016

Book Review: The Fine Art of Deception by Alyssa Richards

The Fine Art of Deception is a paranormal story about Adeline, or Addie, who has the ability to read objects and 'see' their history. This makes her perfect for the job of art evaluator. She gets a job at her family's old firm and is drawn into a plot involving forgeries, murder, and the stolen art from the famous Gardner heist. Addie is also haunted by her past lives with her soul mate, Jack, and by real ghosts.

Blake is an art gallery owner who is secretly working with the FBI to catch the thieves and uses Addie to help him in his quest.

I don't want to give too much away although some of the plot points remain unresolved for the next book in the series to solve. I found the beginning of the story slow and Addie kind of whiney, but I persevered and found that the book got much better though there were still too many plot holes to make this much of a mystery.

I didn't understand what the ghosts had to do with the story. They could have been left out, especially Frank, as they didn't really add to the story. I also didn't understand why Addie had been out of work and not having sex for seven years (since her fiance cheated on her). Maybe a couple of years, but she needed to get over it. Of course, she's apparently wealthy since there is detailed descriptions of her designer clothes, etc., but considering her angst over her last job, I would have thought she would have worked harder to find a new job before seven years went by.

Of course, when she and Blake finally get together, the sex is explosive. There is one more 'twist' before the end where Blake decides he knows what's better for Addie, but otherwise the story was fairly predictable. Still, the writing was good and I enjoyed the descriptions of the art world enough that I grabbed the second book. I received a copy of this book for an honest review.

Link to Amazon

Sunday, October 2, 2016

New FREE Regency Romance Short Story from Jerusha Moors

The Handkerchief

Jane Ratcliffe and Charles Montgomery grew up together, best friends until an incident occurred that shamed Jane and ruined their friendship. Will the Midsummer Ball change that and give them a second chance at love?

Get it free at any of these locations: Download Here! or Here!

Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: Vampire Addiction by Eva Pohler

Teen Fantasy / YA Paranormal

Date Published: 12/27/2014

Publisher: Green Press / Eva Pohler

Some call them “tramps.” In Greek, they are called vrykolakas, or “vryks,” which sometimes gets translated to “freaks.” They are the vampires of Athens, created centuries ago by the Maenads. They live in caves beneath the acropolis, without economic resources and according to rules imposed on them by the Olympians. They are forbidden from turning humans into vampires, which happens when all of the blood is drained; however, they are allowed to drink from a willing mortal. Some mortals are willing because a vampire bite will infect the body for six hours, and, during that time, the mortal has the powers of flight, invisibility, strength, speed, x-ray vision, and mind control. Such great power can become irresistible, though dangerous and addicting to mortals.

As seventeen-year-old Gertie, studying abroad from New York, uncovers the unfathomable secrets of this ancient city, she unwittingly becomes a catalyst in an uprising led by Dionysus, the god of wine and lord of the vampires.

Review

Vampire Addiction is advertised as a combination of Rick Riordan and Twilight for young teens and I'd have to agree. I enjoy both vampire stories and mythology, but this was written for a much younger audience as myself; therefore, I didn't enjoy it as much as I suspect its target audience does.

The author uses some of the oldest vampire myths and intermixes them with Greek mythology in a way that is refreshing and interesting. The book is well written, but I found a few plot holes and some of the action is incongruous. The rules seem to change as needed: a vampire can't enter until invited and then there's exceptions; a vampire can only take an ounce of blood from a human per month and then there's more exceptions. I suspect that teenagers are more caught up in the love triangle and the action though and that's fine; Vampire Addiction wasn't my cup of tea.

Eva Pohler is the Amazon bestselling author of The Mystery Book Collection and four series for young adults: The Gatekeeper's Saga, The Gatekeeper’s Saga Spin-Off Series, The Purgatorium Series, and The Vampires of Athens. Her books have been described as "thrilling" and "addictive." A Kirkus reviewer said of The Gatekeeper's Sons that it was "sure to thrill Hunger Games fans."

A reader herself, Eva writes in multiple genres, but all of her stories blur the line between reality and fantasy, truth and delusion, and draw from Eva's personal philosophy that a reader must be lured and abducted into complete captivity in order to enjoy the reading experience.

To learn more about Eva, visit her website at http://www.evapohler.com.

Contact Information

Website: http://www.evapohler.com

Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/EvaPohler

Twitter: http://www.Twitter.com/EvaPohler

Blog: http://www.evapohler.com/news

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/evapohler

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8877857-eva-pohler

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QQ0NQ4A

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vampire-addiction-eva-pohler/1120892131

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/vampire-addiction-the-vampires-of-athens-book-one