#Review of Moonlight City Drive by Brian Paone w/a rafflecopter giveaway! #crimethriller #noir

Moonlight City Drive

by Brian Paone

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GENRE: Crime/Thriller Romantic Paranormal

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BLURB:

11:18 p.m. Subject is checking into the Desert Palms Motel, accompanied by an unknown female.

Snapshot in the parking lot. Man and woman embrace. Betrayal, I see it every day, like my own reflection in the mirror staring back at me. Another case, another bottle of booze, life is no longer a mystery to me …

… Because I’m the private eye, hot on your trail; the top gun for hire. You’ll find me lurking in the shadows, always searching for a clue. I’m the bulletproof detective. I got my eye on you …

What’s a little sin under the covers, what’s a little blood between lovers? What’s a little death to be discovered, cold stiff body under the covers?

I’m digging you a desert grave, underneath the burning sun. You won’t be found by anyone. Vultures circle in the sky, and you, my dear, are the reason why.

… I was always easily influenced.

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Excerpt Two:

Smith spit out another peanut shell onto his Chevy’s floorboard as his gaze stayed trained on the Desert Palms Motel’s front entrance. His fingers instinctively found the opened bag in the complete darkness and pinched another nut. He squeezed his eyes closed to ward off the simmering residual headache from the most recent blackout. The sound of the rain pelting the windshield was soothing.

“Come on. Where are you? You took the last two nights off. I can’t imagine you being on vacation.”

Headlights turning into the parking lot diverted his attention from the motel’s front door. He squinted to decipher the make and model of the vehicle through the downpour. A Bentley. He sighed and returned his focus to the motel as he fingered the brim of his newly purchased replacement fedora and then tossed it next to him in frustration.

Smith removed his revolver from his shoulder holster and checked that all six chambers were loaded for the umpteenth time. He secured the weapon and grabbed the small notebook from underneath his discarded fedora, lying on the passenger seat, where Wynn should be sitting. But she had maintained radio silence throughout the past two days since storming from Hank’s office. He shook his head in disgust for letting Wynn’s drama distract him from the job at hand.

He swiped the Chevy’s dashboard with his palm to clean off the thick layer of dust that had collected from months of neglect. He wiped his hands on his pants, leaving a graying smear across the fabric covering his thighs. He reached into his trench coat’s inner pocket and removed a silver flask. He opened the top and looked at the engraved insignia on the front. His index finger traced the shining eyeball hanging freely in the cut-out middle of a pyramid. Taking a swig from the decorated flask, he grimaced as the brown liquid hit the back of his throat.

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Can I be honest with you? Really honest? I’m not sure how to word this review. As you can tell but the genre listing its a mixture of things. Plus, its based on an album. Like if I were to write a novel about Queensryche’s Operation: Mindcrime. Or Pink Floyd’s The Wall. Yep, its that type of book. Trust me, I’ve never even heard of the album but with Mr. Paone’s prose, I did hear it. And hear it, I did. It’s kinda weird, suspenseful, sexy and mind blowing all at the same time.

Mr. Paone has written a book that completely surprised me. Of course, since I didn’t have a clue going in, I just went along for the ride. It’s dark, twisted with characters that you despise but can’t help like at the same time. Again, it’s just weird but a good weird. Since I read other books besides romance, I read a lot of “different” books but this one is in the top ten of the best books that are not in the true romance category. I loved how Mr. Paone was able to pull this romance reader into his world and hold me until the very end. I’m still thinking about this book even though I finished it a while ago.

Again, I’m sure that I’m rambling but I honestly don’t know how to put my feelings on the page about it. Creepy, weird, different, and completely well written. Mr. Paone knows how to use his words. It’s atmospheric, with a paranormal twist that I never saw coming. Does he finally get the bad guy preying on prostitutes? You will have to read it to find out. If you are looking for something different, read this book. I’m glad that did. Now I need to figure out how to write that novel featuring Operation: Mindcrime. Which I HIGHLY recommend. Geoff Tate at his best.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Brian Paone was born and raised in the Salem, Massachusetts area. Brian has, thus far, published four novels: a memoir about being friends with a drug-addicted rock star, Dreams are Unfinished Thoughts; a macabre cerebral-horror novel, Welcome to Parkview; a time-travel romance novel, Yours Truly, 2095, (which was nominated for a Hugo Award, though it did not make the finalists); and a supernatural, crime-noir detective novel, Moonlight City Drive. Along with his four novels, Brian has published three short stories: “Outside of Heaven,” which is featured in the anthology, A Matter of Words; “The Whaler’s Dues,” which is featured in the anthology, A Journey of Words; and “Anesthetize (or A Dream Played in Reverse on Piano Keys),” which is featured in the anthology, A Haunting of Words. Brian is also a vocalist and has released seven albums with his four bands: Yellow #1, Drop Kick Jesus, The Grave Machine, and Transpose. He is married to a US Naval Officer, and they have four children. Brian is also a police officer and has been working in law enforcement since 2002. He is a self-proclaimed roller coaster junkie, a New England Patriots fanatic, and his favorite color is burnt orange. For more information on all his books and music, visit www.BrianPaone.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-City-Drive-Brian-Paone-ebook/dp/B076B7X9RQ

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/moonlight-city-drive-brian-paone/1127206870

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway ”

Excerpt, Giveaways, Reviews

#Review of Reel Love by Elizabeth Hartey w/a rafflecopter giveaway! #romance #fantasy #women’s fiction @drliz5

January 10, 2018January 9, 2018 Admin

Reel Love

by Elizabeth Hartey

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GENRE: romance/women’s fiction/fantasy

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BLURB:

Annie Caslo is a successful, young doctor, but when she begins rethinking the career choices she’s made, she makes a decision to find a way to stay focused and achieve her true ambitions – that is until fate steps in and she is thunderstruck by Colt Ballard. He’s six foot three inches of heart-stopping hotness, an adept, roguish soccer star and also one of her interns. But he’s a player – on and off the field – and Annie has better things to do. Still, the combustible chemistry between them is impossible to resist – Colt brings out feelings she never knew existed and Annie’s swept off her reluctant feet.

When she continues to second-guess her life choices, opportunities and obstacles begin piling up higher than the greasy Mexican food stacks she hates to admit loving. While in a state of emotional turmoil, she gets a celestial visit from a hunky, Hollywood heartthrob, lookalike, who claims to be her guardian angel. He takes her on a magical road trip to self-discovery with the help of several, dearly departed film icons.

Drawn into the excitement of a life she’s always dreamed of, this new life threatens to shatter the LIFE and love she already has—unless her quirky angel can help her find a way to have it all.

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Excerpt Three:

Right, so dinner,” the angel stated, coming out of his trance and moving back a few steps. “Tell you what, how about I surprise you?”

He opened the refrigerator and stared. He’s probably willing the ingredients to march out and place themselves into his hands. Annie smirked. “Surprise me?”

“Yeah, I’ll make something special for our first dinner.”

“Whatever you say,” she relented, “but I don’t think you could possibly surprise me anymore than you already have.”

“Annie, never underestimate the power of an angel.” He turned and gave her what could ironically be called a devilish grin.

Annie moved to one side, out of his way, and his alluring scent. She watched as he moved skillfully around the kitchen. He knew exactly where to find everything he needed, as though he had been there many times before.

“Why don’t you put some music on? I could go for something romantic,” he commented without looking up from his preparation of the food.

“Romantic? Um, you mean like harp music or, um … what would be romantic to you … I mean, to an angel?”

“Harp music is pretty romantic, but most of the music in the world would be considered soothing and romantic to us. We’re not stuck strictly on harps.”

“Really?”

He moved across the room toward Annie. As he came closer, she once again found herself pinned against the countertop by his prevailing presence.

“You know, we angels are some of God’s most romantic creatures,” he whispered, so close his lips brushed her cheek.

“Really?” Annie repeated, this time in a dreamy slur that sounded and felt as if she were dissolving into a puddle in front of him.

“That’s right,” he said in a nonchalant tone, and then moved back to the refrigerator. “We’re overflowing with love and understanding.” He grinned, again somewhat mischievously.

Annie caught herself just before her weakened legs allowed her to slide to the floor. This is ridiculous. He’s an angel for heaven’s sake … precisely, she thought, giggling. She slipped her coat off and threw it over the back of a chair as she walked across to the cabinet that housed the high-tech stereo equipment Colt had installed.

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What can I say? Women’s fiction/romance/fantasy book? Harlie, are you feeling okay? Flu bug got you? No to all those questions. I fell in love with the “guardian angel” angle. I know, I’m a sap for anything about angels. Shocked? You should be because I don’t share that one with anyone. But let’s get back to the review, shall we? At first, when I started reading, I was a little creeped out about the whole teacher/student thing until I just couldn’t stop reading about Colt and Annie’s relationship. I will tell you that their build-up to romance is fast paced but it makes sense. This book isn’t about the fairytale romance that we read so much about in romance books but the journey to be fulfilled in that relationship and figuring out if the dream is still there with that one person.

Evan, the angel is a hoot. I missed him every time that he wasn’t on the page. He brought common sense to Annie and also humor to her situation. Sounds confusing, it really isn’t. He’s not there to tell her what to do but to make her see what could happen or the consequences of her actions. Everyone needs someone to be the voice of reason and that’s what Evan is to Annie. Again, I missed him when he wasn’t on the page.

Evan, the movie star. I really wanted to fall in love with him but at times, he was really pushy with Annie. It was almost like he was the snake charmer or even worse, the con artist in the ways that he could manipulate Annie into the situations that she was in at times. Don’t get me wrong, Annie was right along with him but it wasn’t until the ending of the book that I really fell in love with him. I really, really hope that Dr. Hartey writes a sequel to this book. I would love for Evan, the movie star to find that special person just for him. There is a hint and that’s all I’m going to say about that. Yes, I went there with a movie quote. They play a huge part in the book and of my gosh…Vivian Leigh. One of my all-time favorite actresses makes the book, too. *sigh*

Colt is a dream and he’s almost too good to be true once he and Annie are married. As this is a women’s fiction book, he isn’t in that much but he doesn’t need to be. While the book is told in alternating POV’s, Colt’s disappears for a while. It’s not until the end that we finally see him at his wit’s end with Annie and Evan’s so-called relationship that he got my true respect for him.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It’s not my usual fare and I’m glad that picked it up. Of course, now I must have some conclusion with Evan, the movie star. But hey, that’s just me. If you are looking for a true romance book, this isn’t it. It’s there but just remember, it’s about Annie’s journey of self-discovery that fills the actual story. And angel named, Evan.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

As a lover of the northeast US, Elizabeth moved with her husband to the Poconos several years ago to open a Chiropractic Clinic. Four children and a menagerie of animals later, she has finally found time to fulfill her lifelong dream of writing novels. A dreamer at heart, romance is the genre she spends most of her time writing and reading into the wee hours of the morning. When not juggling work responsibilities and writing, she enjoys hiking the beautiful hills and woods around her home, swimming, knitting, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Website: https://www.elizabethhartey.com

FB www.facebook.com/EHarteyauthor

Twitter @drliz5

Newsletter http://eepurl.com/cZCEuL

Goodreads http://bit.ly/ReelLoveGR

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Reel-Love-Elizabeth-Hartey-ebook/dp/B074HTD645/

Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/2vnjPJt

Kobo http://bit.ly/2vncc5C

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2wqY5ZU

Crimson Cloak Publishing http://bit.ly/2w7HtqG

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Elizabeth Hartey will be awarding $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway “

Excerpt, Giveaways

Excerpt from Deception by Samuel Jay w/a rafflecopter giveaway!

June 7, 2017June 6, 2017 Admin

Deception

by Samuel Jay

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GENRE: mystery/romance

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BLURB:

Lieutenant Jack Morro has just days to go before being sent home from the war in Vietnam. But after inadvertently learning of evidence of a conspiracy involving his captain, he is hit by the captain’s ‘friendly fire’ in the midst of battle. He is left for dead but is only wounded, captured by the Viet Cong, and imprisoned. When Jack is reported killed in action, his fiancé, Diane – a rising New York journalist – plunges into alcoholism. A media giant named Vidal helps her recover, and Diane falls in love with him. But Vidal has secrets – including a connection to Jack’s supposed ‘death.’

However, Jack is alive, and after a year of imprisonment, he manages to escape. But he comes home to find Diane married to Vidal and his life still in peril from the information he learned in Vietnam.

Vidal, Jack, and Diane find themselves wrapped in a web of romance, deceit, and danger – and none of them will escape unscathed.

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Excerpt Two:

Manhattan, November 1971

Standing in the men’s department at Macy’s, Diane Gannon smiled as she enthusiastically fingered her way through layers of folded sweaters to find one for her fiancé, Jack, who’d soon be coming home from the war in Vietnam. Alongside her was future mother-in-law, Grace Morro, also smiling as she held a shopping bag in both hands. Out in the center aisle, heel-clicking women shoppers marched along on their way to Ladies’, some of them peeling off near Diane and Grace into other rows and racks of men’s clothes. Brightening the scene, broad paths of sunlight flowed through the large windows on Seventh Avenue, revealing rows of appealing merchandise as saleswomen stood behind glass counters, chatting with customers or placing clothes in gift boxes.

Diane stood in low heels, wearing a brown suede jacket over a white sweater and black slacks, her dark, reddish hair pulled back in a ponytail, her sculptured face of fair skin and striking eyes heightened by a cleft in her chin. Holding up a light blue sweater by its shoulders, she looked over at Grace and said, “What do you think, Mom? Wouldn’t this look great on Jack?”

Wearing a gray overcoat open down the middle, Grace nodded. “Yes, it would. It really would, but I can’t stop feeling nervous about him. Him still over there. Won’t stop ’til he’s home. Two years of worrying. Sorry, hon.”

Diane lowered the sweater and arched her eyebrows at Grace. “Thirty-five more days and all our worries will be gone! He’ll be home just before Christmas!”

Grace nodded. “Meantime, he’s still over there, in the fighting.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

The author and his wife, Joan, live in Hunterdon County, NJ. As a public relations professional he and his firm successfully handled major public issue campaigns, including raising $68 million to build Liberty Science Center, now the nation’s fourth largest hands-on science museum. He is also president of a family-owned water utility. Deception is his third novel. His website is samueljaynovels.com, and he welcomes speaking invitations and correspondence via samuel@samueljaynovels.com.

https://www.facebook.com/Samuel-Jay-610181309025664/

https://www.amazon.com/Deception-Samuel-Jay/dp/0692797742

The book will be free during the tour.

Amazon Buy Link

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:

Samuel Jay will be awarding a signed copy of Deception to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
a Rafflecopter giveaway ”