Five Winners of A Black Tie Affair!

CONGRATULATIONS 
TO FIVE WINNERS of
A Black Tie Affair 
by Sherrill Bodine!

#16

#10

#2

#8

#19

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I will e-mail the winners the Hachette form to complete.

Review - Soul Catcher, Book One The Outsiders Trilogy by Leigh Bridger

Title:  Soul Catcher – Book One The Outsiders Trilogy
Author:   Leigh Bridger
Genre:   Urban Fantasy
Publisher: BelleBooks, Inc. (October 20, 2009)
ISBN-10: 098217568X
ISBN-13: 978-0982175682
Buy Link ($16.95)
Amazon ($12.71)
Release Date:  October 20, 2009
Pages: 284
Heat Rating: Graphic violence and language

Rating:  4.75 of 5.0
Author site

Product Description
From the gothic eccentricity of Asheville, North Carolina to the terrifying recesses of the Appalachian wilderness, from modern demonology to ancient Cherokee mythology, SOUL CATCHER follows the tormented journey of folk artist Livia Belane, who has been stalked through many lives by a sadistic and vengeful demon.

Livia and her loved ones, including her frontier-era soulmate and husband, Ian, a Soul Hunter, have never beaten the demon before. Now, in this life, he’s found them again.

Review:  A gripping, action packed tale of good versus evil chasing through time.

Livia is a tortured soul trying to live below the radar of a demon while also trying to stay out of mental institutions.  As a young child she began waking up in the middle of the night to find she had painted strange pictures.  Then she hears the whispers:  “paint them, trap them, burn them.”  It takes some time before she learns that she can capture the demons by painting them.  But no one asked her if she wanted this talent and she doesn’t!

She is street smart having had to grow up on the streets after being accused of killing her own family. In truth she had to watch as demons destroyed her loved ones. She has had to face rape and beatings while trying to find shelter.
She tries to live quietly and obscurely. If she can stay alone maybe no one else will get hurt and maybe she won’t have to run again.  She doesn’t realize that she has been surrounded by protectors, angels and spirits, all working to try to ease her circumstances and keep her safe.  Then she starts to paint a “pilgrim”.  She doesn’t know it is the soul hunter “Ian.” Something very deep inside her doesn’t want to remember this man.


Livia fights to bury memories of her past lives and her love of Ian. But Ian, a warrior soul hunter, remembers, loves and seeks to protect the soul catcher – his soul catcher.  He is bound to protect her, with his own life if necessary, knowing he will find her in the next life and seek to love and protect her again.

This is an action packed story filled with brutal and graphic battles between the forces of good and evil.  Livia is a very dark, almost depressed, character and the language is gritty and rough, fitting the street and underground worlds where Livia dwells. There are some interesting thoughts on reincarnation that fit with the fantasy battle and 'need to learn lessons' over the generations.
Even with the rough language I did like this very intense story.  The deep characters and unusual plot make this a very good read.

This book was provided by Belle Bridge Books.

Review - Don't Look Down by David Laing Dawson

Title:  DON’T LOOK DOWN
Author:   David Laing Dawson
Genre:  Drama
Publisher: Bridgeross Communications
ISBN-10: 0981003753
ISBN-13: 978-0981003757
Buy Link

Release Date:  August 17, 2009
Paperback $15.56
Pages: 194
Heat Rating: Graphic language

Rating:  4.0 of 5.0
Piblisher Link

Product Description:
Four men, age 18 to 81, have murdered, and now share a room in the secure forensic psychiatry ward of a mental hospital. Who better to get inside their heads, and find both the tragedy and comedy of their lives than Canadian psychiatrist and novelist David Laing Dawson. Three of Dawson's previous novels, Last Rights, Double Blind, and Essondale have been published in seven European countries, the US and the UK. Dawson's novels have been described as a cross between Elmore Leonard and Seinfeld and as close to reality as it gets.

Review:  This was definitely a different story than most of what I read.  I chose it specifically to stretch my reading a bit.  The language is very rough and crass since the story is told from the perspective of psychotic murderers.

The book gives us a look at the mentally ill as they await a determination if they are mentally competent to stand trial.  I liked how the author reveals the murders as he tells the stories of each of the four patients.  Memory flash backs and Doctor interviews are used to tell what was happening to the men, and what they were thinking, when the murders took place. Sometimes there is complete lucidity, sometimes confusion, sometimes drug induced psychosis and sometimes downright evil.

Henry is the oldest at 81 and sanest of the four.  He has been accused of killing his long time companion who was suffering from cancer.  Through his memories and observations we see that he is a caring man. A lot of the story of the other patients is shown through Henry’s eyes and thoughts.  

David is the youngest man at 18 and clearly a schizophrenic mind lost in a drug haze.  His behavior is compulsive and he gets agitated if he loses his routine.  Can they figure out what really happened and can they help him suppress his demons so he can live a “normal” life?

Frank is a repeat criminal and pretty much a mean and evil guy.  There is reason to fear this brutal man. Now that his 10 year sentence is completed, he is being assessed to determine if he can be released.  Was there something in his past that caused him to be this way?  If he can’t be helped with treatment has he gotten over his rage so that he can be released and not be a danger in society?

Joseph is a middle aged, insecure, paranoid, and depressed patient accused of beating his wife.  He was convinced his wife was cheating on him and he couldn’t stand it. What can be done to help him see reality without the paranoid insecurities?

The author shows the mental psychosis and what the men are thinking as they go through their daily routines preparing for the review board hearings.  This book presents an interesting picture into minds that are askew and how they cope, or not, with the world that surrounds them.

This well written book is not long, but it is not “light” reading.  It seems real although it is fiction.  It is mental and dark and good to help you see a different world where most of us are fortunate never to go.  If you can handle the bad language I recommend this for the unusual perspective it gives into the criminally, mentally ill mindset.

The book was provided by the publisher through Bostwick.Communications.

Tuesday COMMENTS Giveaway - How Should You Stay Warm?

I was working on a March comment post for today but we lost Internet connection last night so it didn't get done. I will save it for next week and here is a hint: tone up your movie memories!

I know it is finally starting to warm up a bit but before Spring officially gets here I'll ask the question:

HOW SHOULD YOU STAY WARM?

 My answer suits me just fine!

You Should Stay Warm by Cuddling
You are a caring, kind person who really gets happiness from being around others.
And a cold night is the perfect excuse to cuddle up with the person (or creature) you love the most.

You are nurturing and compassionate. You always make sure that everyone is warm on a cold night.
You love the calm and quiet that comes in the middle of winter. You feel at peace when everyone else is at peace.

So take the test and tell us How YOU should stay warm!

I will be posting two reviews at the blog  in just a bit.  Comment on this post or the Tuesday Review posts to be entered in the drawing for a book from the Friday Pick list! Winner will be chosen through random.org and announced on Friday.
I hope everyone has a great day and stays warm!

March "Other" Book Blog Giveaways!

March Madness hosted by Anne Patrick as Suspense by Anne!  Weekly winners and a Grand Prize at the end!

YA fans might be interested in entering to win BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver.  Hosted by Tina at Fantastic Book Review.  Ends March 12.

Help find the missing evidence for Eve Dallas from J.D. Robb's "In Death" Series and get a chance to win an autographed copy of Fantasy in Death!  Entries to be in by March 23!

Enter to win Chicken Soup for the Soul - Count Your Blessings.  Hosted by Shauna at Book Giveaways.  Check her sidebar for lots of other giveaways too! Ends March 23.

Joyce DiPastena is celebrating with a giveaway because Illuminations of the Heart is a 2009 Whitney Award Finalist! Visit her site and click on News and Contests to get the details!  Congratulations Joyce! Ends April 4, 2010.