Friday, June 21, 2013

Free Read: Three to Get Ready

It's summer time and everyone is busy. You're being pulled in so many different directions, you just might pass yourself along the way. At least, that's the way it feels to me sometimes. While the idea of kicking back on your favorite patio chair, hammock or chaise lounge with a refreshing beverage and a good book to read still has its own appeal, chances are you might not have as much time to enjoy that as you'd like.  So, here's a chance to try some short stories for free!  That's right, free.

This Saturday and Sunday 6/22 and 6/23, you can download a free copy of "Three to Get Ready" on Amazon. There's a link at the bottom of the page.  These three are my favorite short stories, written in the spirit of "The Twilight Zone", "Night Gallery" and "Tales of the Crypt" where you just know something strange is lurking right around the corner.  This collection also includes a glimpse of "Fade Away" one of my novels.  Here's a little bit about each story. Enjoy!


         
                        Trinity

A motorcyclist races across the desert in an attempt to escape his past takes a detour through a bucolic town that could have been crafted by Norman Rockwell. But this quaint little village is not what it appears.


                        Wishes

An old man struggles to retain the memories of a long life, but time is definitely not on his side. When he is summoned to the mysterious Kaliber mansion, his curiosity gets the better of him. But will he remember what’s waiting for him in time?


                        Alderschot

A small group of passengers wait for the connecting train at a rural railroad station. For most, it’s just a brief stop on their way to someplace bigger. But two anxiously wonder what forces are behind this place in the midst of nowhere.


Saturday, June 15, 2013

Lapses of Memory.

Let me state right off the bat that I never win anything.  Well, let's make that rarely. Once I won five bucks on a lottery ticket, after buying twenty bucks worth of tickets. To consider me lucky is a stretch of the imagination. Yet every once in a while, the stars align, the tides turn, or whatever influences you like occur and I win something.  It's been a while since I could say that.

A few weeks ago, I happened upon a post from fellow writer M.S. Spencer, whose latest book, "Lapses of Memory" was out. Part of the story includes long distance airplane rides that occur over several decades. Spencer was asking readers to share memorable plane experiences.  I related about a time when a flight was delayed for several hours and when we finally took off, the young lady in the seat beside me dug her nails into my  forearm, mistaking it for the armrest on the seat. I must have gotten a laugh out of Spencer, for a few days later, I learned that I'd won a copy of the new book.

When the book arrived, I had no intention of reading it right away. But I liked the concept and wanted to take a peek. An hour later I was still reading. Although I was in the middle of another novel, I put that one back on the shelf. By the end of the weekend, I'd finished "Lapses of Memory".  It's a very well written story.  So after trading messages with M.S., I ended up writing a quick review. She put a few personal touches to it and posted it on her blog. Check out the link below.

Meanwhile I need to get back to work on the third Jamie Richmond mystery.


http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com/2013/06/rave-review-for-lapses-of-memory.html?spref=fb



Friday, June 7, 2013

Guest spot: Jennifer Labelle

It's a pleasure to have Jennifer Labelle stop by today to promote her new release "Meant to Be"


Who Wants a FREE Book?
FREEBIE Over HERE…
Have I got your attention yet? J
It’s my birthday week, and I’ve decided to give you all a present to help celebrate my 33rd this past Tuesday June, 4th. What better way than to have my very first release up for FREE on Amazon for the entire weekend! (June 7th, 8th, and 9th)
I’d like to thank everyone for joining me here, and I hope you enjoy it! *coughs* Don’t forget, I’m always up for some new reviews too. If you have the time that is, in the meantime please check out the blurb and excerpt below and get your very own copy today before time runs out! J Spread the word…

Book blurb:
Jenna Baker is shaken up after her recovery with a near death experience. As if, being haunted with visions and losing her husband in a car accident weren’t hard enough. Could she be losing her mind? She finally moves on, only to have the husband she thought was dead suddenly reappear.
 After the shocking task of convincing Jenna that she’s not seeing his ghost, Tyler becomes overwhelmed with guilt for saving himself and leaving her to almost die. Jenna’s recovery takes its toll while Tyler’s vulnerability gets the best of him. He’s harboring secrets that will devastate her and as Jenna unravels the truth her life takes an unexpected journey.

Excerpt:
He smiled again, taking the last plate from her to dry and shook off the extra suds. Drips of water and soap suds flew through the air getting her wet in the process, and he laughed at her shocked expression.
    “Oh, really,” she said in the mood to play. Taking the sprayer hose from the faucet, she turned it on and gave him a squirt. She laughed, and it was his turn to pause in shock.
    She could tell by his expression that this meant war and made a run for it, laughing the whole way. She made it into the living room before he extended his arm to catch her, swooping her up as if she was feather light.
“Got ye.”
    They both laughed, but when she turned to face him, he became serious suddenly. She knew then that the games were over. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and pulled her towards him. Slowly moving his face closer, his eyes sparkled and completely absorbed hers.
    The kiss started out slow, and she wanted him to take his time with it. She held back a groan when his mouth pulled away and pulled him tighter against her. Her adrenaline pumped faster, and she could feel the warmth coursing throughout her body. There was no thinking twice about it; her desire consumed her.
     Pushing him against the wall, she kissed him hard, wanting him in that moment more than she’d ever wanted anything. She liked where this was going, liked being in control, needed it in that moment.
Placing her hands on his chest, she slowly moved them down his beautifully sculptured abs. “Stay,” she whispered, taking a step back so that he could watch as she unzipped her dress. It slowly slid to the floor exposing her bare breasts and the sexy black thong she wore. She kicked it out of the way, pulled his shirt off, and pressed herself against him again, flesh against flesh.

AMAZON LINK:

Author bio:


Author contact links:

Best wishes,
Jennifer Labelle




Free Copy of Fade Away

On Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8, you can get a free copy of my mystery thriller Fade Away on Amazon. There's a link at the bottom of the page.



Here's the story line and an excerpt. I hope you enjoy it.

Vincent Tyrell is trying to put his life together after being discharged from the Army.  With no place to call home, he takes a job doing security work at a chemical plant in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Just as he’s about to settle into a comfortable routine, a deadly explosion rips apart the night, leaving Tyrell badly injured.  The explosion was the result of an experiment that went terribly wrong. But the chemical blast has a strange effect on Tyrell’s body.  The authorities are searching for him, blaming him for the accident. He’s desperately trying to find the men responsible, to see if they have a cure or a way to reverse the process. A cross country chase ensues. Will he find them before it is too late, or will he just Fade Away?

"What about him?" Bookman pointed toward me.
Duggan looked down. "He's good as dead anyway. You want witnesses to what happened here?"
"Hell no."
"Then we leave him. C'mon, before this whole freaking place explodes."
I watched in horror as they went through the door.  The fire closed in, melting the building around me.
Somehow, I had to pull myself away. My hands worked and my arms could support most of my weight. My legs felt like overcooked pasta. The door was only ten feet from where I'd been thrown, one hundred and twenty inches. I could crawl that in no time.
This is exactly what I had: no time. The building was collapsing all around me. Ceiling beams and light fixtures kept crashing down from above. The firemen had pulled back, beyond the reach of the heat.
It took a minute to roll over and start crawling. Visions of jungle warfare kept snapping back into my brain. How many miles had I crawled through swamps and sewage elbows and knees propelling me along?  If I had enough time, I could probably figure it out.  But if I didn't get my ass in gear, it wouldn't matter. I had to move, get beyond those ten simple feet. Distraction always worked well in the past. By focusing my thoughts on something irrelevant, my body would take over the task at hand and get it done. Rock music was a favorite tool. I turned my brain to selecting the perfect tune for my predicament and my arms went to work. To the strains of "Burning Down the House" I started to crawl.
My legs dragged along behind me like two useless sticks of wood. It was up to my arms to get it done, and damned fast. I reached for anything to pull myself along, grasping the base of one of the few machines that remained upright. I pulled carefully, not wanting to topple it.  If it fell and blocked my path, I'd never get around it. If it landed on my back, I'd be dead anyway.
The machine wobbled but held as I inched forward. The heat was increasing. What the hell were these guys working with that could burn so damn hot?  The door was closer. Only nine feet to go. My hands and arms did it all.  Reaching, probing, and pulling me along. Blood continued to seep into my eyes, clouding my vision.
Eight feet to go.
My heart was racing with the increase of adrenalin. I paused long enough to wipe some of the clotting blood from my face. My sight improved slightly and I risked a glance at the back of the building. It looked like a Vietnam village after an air strike had been called in.
Fire shot through a gaping hole in the roof.  Dense smoke billowed up toward the rafters, obliterating everything three feet above the floor. Where the solemn row of machinery had stood was now a twisted pile of smoldering black iron. If this wasn't hell, it was as close as I wanted to be. I turned my head and resumed my crawl. Mentally I hit the replay button on my brain's MP3 player and cued up the song again.
Seven feet to go.
I had just gotten past the spot where the computer consoles had been when I sensed my time was up. Somewhere near the loading dock a large oxygen tank had been resting on a wheeled cart.  The heat finally passed its safety point.  I heard a muffled groan and saw the tank explode. It shredded like a grenade, sending most of the metal shrapnel rushing directly toward me.
My screams were drowned out by the roar of the fire. I covered my head with my arms and prepared to die.