Hoping everyone has a

MERRY CHRISTMAS

HAPPY CHANUKAH

AND/OR

JOYOUS KWANZAA

QUINN'S CHRISTMAS WISH

BY 

LAWNA MACKIE

As far as twelve-year old Quinn is concerned Christmas has lost its magic. Since his father’s death life has lost its sparkle. His mom is now a widow struggling to put food on the table. Quinn is no help, and the mysterious illness afflicting him only makes things worse. Even Christmas, complete with decorated trees, ribbons and bows has no meaning…then along comes Jazira.

Jazira doesn’t know what happened to her former self, the eleven-year old little girl. She drowned, didn’t she, along with half the other folk of Bandit Creek in 1911? Somehow, she’s grown four furry legs complimented with a large wolf head and body. Scared and alone, she reaches out to Quinn and a strong bond is formed. Jazira learns Quinn, and his mother, are threatened by a wealthy powerful citizen of Bandit Creek. She is determined to protect her new family, no matter what.

Christmas Eve finds Quinn staring up at the adorned tree and muttering a quiet prayer. Will the Spirits of Christmas grant his wish, or will the evil surrounding Bandit Creek prevail once again?

  

My review

What a wonderful story. The chemistry between Amanda and Samuel, and that between Quinn and Jazira- just incredible. I was so happy with the ending and hope the author follows through on plans to write a story about Quinn and Jazira as adults.

Mr. Ellis was a perfect villain. He was nasty and rotten, just like his bratty kid. Quinn had a lot to overcome, between his seizures and being bullied by Billy Ellis, but his friendship with Jazira with help him through. The idea of the Lost Lake was somewhat bizarre. I liked the idea that Quinn asking God for help may be responsible for the events of the story.

A great short story to read! A wonderful Christmas tale, and a great story of romance and paranormal.

About Lawna:

I have always believed in fairy tales and when I got tired of the old ones I made up my own. Each story would have a hero and heroine, but they were anything but typical.

I devoured my first romance novel when I was a teenager. I couldn’t read them fast enough. Years later I stumbled across my first paranormal romance…an injustice would be done if I tried to explain my joy when I found this genre of romance. My passion was finally in print.

Now, with the help of my bizarre dreams and crazy imagination, I have started to write and intend to share my stories with you. I hope you’ll love them as much as I do.

I am truly blessed. My husband and my animals are my inspiration. We live on a small acreage in Didsbury, Alberta, with our most beloved companions, Dozer, Daisy and Mandarin.

Happy reading everyone, I sure would love to hear from you. www.lawnamackie.ca 

Quinn’s Christmas Wish – December 1, 2011 available through Amazon and Smashwords.

IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD – December 19, 2011 released through Liquid Silver Books http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com 

ENCHANTMENT – January 13, 2012 released through Muse It Up Publishing http://museituppublishing.com 

Save the Wolf
The wolf, Jazira, in QUINN’S CHRISTMAS WISH has special meaning for me. I thought I’d share why with you.
When I was young, my father came home one day to let us know that he’d purchased a trap line. Now, I consider myself a HUGE animal lover. Always have and always will. Needless to say his news devastated me, and I wanted nothing to do with it (hard to do when you’re a child without much say).
Unfortunately, time went on and so did the activities on the trap line. Every weekend I prayed the traps would be empty. One particular weekend just before Christmas, my parents decided we would go spend time at our trap line cabin. This is a very rustic cabin to say the least. I decided to bring my best friend along. Quading was a big thing for us back then.
Before I headed out, my father lectured me about the Timber Wolf trap he had set along the trail I would pass by. I didn’t pay much attention because THANK HEAVENS I’d never come across anything in the trap before.
So off my friend and I went, cruising along the trail, carefree and having fun. It all ended when I rounded a corner and there in my path stood the largest black wolf I’d ever seen. I slammed on my brakes skidding to a halt not more than 30 feet away from the giant animal. He was caught by the toe in the trap. Our eyes locked and my heart broke. I will never forget that moment…I wish I could. My girlfriend was screaming and clinging to the back of me terrified the wolf would eat us.
I promptly slammed the quad into reverse and pressed on the throttle. Well, I backed up over a large bush and high centered my machine. We quickly got unstuck and took off back the way we’d come. The whole way I prayed silently that the wolf would pull himself free because I knew the fate of the poor creature.
When I got back to the cabin I told my father. I begged him to leave the wolf. Still to this day I’m unable to forgive myself. If only I could have kept it secret. I cried for months and even remembering it now brings tears to my eyes. How I wished I could bring him back to life, then when I started writing this novella, I pretended I was, and I did. For me this wolf lives in Jazira.
I have always loved wolves and now I have Alaskan Malamutes, which are the closest domestic animals I can find to a real wolf. I’ve attached a photo of my giant Alaskan Malamute Dozer.
I’d love to hear your comments and if you haven’t had a chance to read QUINN’S CHRISTMAS WISH, visit my website for details. www.lawnamackie.ca
I know I’m prejudice, but it really is a heartwarming story…perfect for Christmas!

A Clockwork Christmas

anthology by Gail,Stacy; Forte, PG; Schwartz,Jenny; Coi, JK

published by Carina Press

publication date 12/5/11

received from NetGalley for review

I'm new to the entire steampunk genre.  I find the idea of futuristic inventions in a Victorian time period fascinating.  This book a wonderful combination of steampunk, and romance.  An anthology of 4 stories.  I found the first story to be the most interesting, "Crime Wave in a Corset". I don't think there was much related to Christmas in these stories, just the time the book was released.  

I will definitely read more steampunk, and look for more from these 4 authors.  I found this to be an enjoyable collection of stories. 

received from NetGalley for review

(synopsis) 

Egypt, 1500 BC 

Drawn to his abandoned temple on the banks of the Nile by an enchanting song, Sobek the Crocodile God is even more captivated by the sight of the singer herself. Appearing to her as a man, he learns she is Merys, a descendant of his last priestess. Though filled with lust, Sobek believes Merys deserves to be more than just his mistress. But the rules that govern the Egyptian pantheon forbid anything beyond a physical joining of a Great One and a human. 

Merys is attracted to the handsome stranger, who arouses passions in her that no man ever has. But with no dowry and no hope of ever leaving her village, she dares not dream of the future—or love. 

Sobek takes every opportunity to visit Merys, taxing his resolve to leave her pure. When he saves her life, their mutual desire must be sated. But can a love between a human and an immortal survive the ultimate test of the gods? 

21,000 words 

review: 

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a very short, very quick read. I love anything relating to Ancient Egypt. This is listed as an adult book. I think the author could have avoided the graphic descriptions of the horizontal activities and made this book available for a younger audience. It is a classic love story, one that transcends life and death. The characters are strong and independent, especially Merys, the Priestess of Sobek. She has a delightful personality, and is a calming influence to all around her. She shrugs off being mistreated by her good for nothing family. Her only close relation is a much younger sister who is also mistreated by the family. 

The end was not a surprise.

3.5/5 stars

I rated this book as I did, not due to the graphic content (it is an adult book) but because the ending was in no way a surprise.  The book did hold my interest, but when it ended there was no "Oh no, it's finished!!" moment.

Announcing the Scorpio Rising Social Media Whirlwind Tour! As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Scorpio Rising eBook edition has dropped to just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes, including 2 Kindle Fires, Amazon gift cards up to $100 in amount, 5 autographed copies of the book, and 5 autographed copies of its recently released sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio. Be sure to enter before the end of the day on Friday, December 23rd, so you don’t miss out.  

To Win the Prizes:

1. Purchase your copy of Scorpio Rising for just 99 cents on Amazon or Barnes & Noble
2. Fill-out the form on Novel Publicity to enter for the prizes
3. Visit today’s featured event; you may win an autographed copy of the book or a $50 gift card!
4. BONUS:  If you leave a comment on this blog post, you have another chance at $100!

 

...And I can win too!

Over 100 bloggers are participating in this gigantic event, and there are plenty of prizes for us too. The blogger who receives the most votes in the traffic-breaker poll will win a $100 gift card as well. So when you visit Novel Publicity’s site to fill-out the contest entry form, don’t forget to say that I referred you, so I can get a point in the poll.  

The Featured Events include:

MONDAY, Blogaganza on Novel Publicity! We’re kicking-off on the Novel Publicity Free Advice blog. We’ll ask the writer 5 fun and random questions to get everyone talking. Leave a comment or question in response to the post, and you may win an autographed copy of Scorpio Rising or its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio. Don’t forget to enter for the other contest prizes while you’re over there!

TUESDAY,  Twitter sharing contest! A tweet is tiny, only 140 characters. But on Tuesday, it could win you $50. Send the following tweet across the twittersphere, and you just may win a $50 Amazon gift card. Autographed copies of Scorpio Rising and its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio, are also up for grabs. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning. Here’s the tweet:  Looking for a read that's full of love, drama, and betrayal? Scorpio Rising has been reduced to 99 cents! http://ow.ly/7zA2s #whirlwind

WEDNESDAY , Google+ sharing contest! Yup, there’s yet another awesome opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and this time it just takes a single click! Visit Google+ and share Emlyn Chand’s most recent post (you’ll see the Scorpio Rising book cover included with it). On Thursday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of Scorpio Rising and its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio, are also up for grabs. Three chances to win! How about that?

THURSDAY , Facebook sharing contest! Stop by Novel Publicity’s Facebook page and share their latest post (you’ll see the Scorpio Rising book cover included with it). It’s ridiculously easy to win! On Friday morning, one lucky sharer will be $50 richer. Autographed copies of Scorpio Rising and its sequel, The Sting of The Scorpio, are also up for grabs.

FRIDAY, special contest on the author’s site! Win a Kindle Fire! Two are up for grabs! Visit Monique’s website to leave a comment on any of her posts and sign-up for her author newsletter. One person will win for each method, so be sure to do both.  

Remember, it’s all about the books!

About Scorpio Rising: Set in New York and Paris amid the glamorous and competitive worlds of art and real estate, Scorpio Rising takes the reader from the late 1940s to the 1960s through the tumultuous lives of its heroes. Alex Ivanov is the son of a Russian immigrant and part-time prostitute. He yearns to escape his sordid life and achieve fame and fortune. His dreams of becoming a world-class builder are met with countless obstacles, yet he perseveres in the hope of someday receiving the recognition he craves. Half a world away, Brigitte Dartois is an abused teenager who runs into the arms of a benefactor with an agenda all his own. When she finds out that her boss has an ulterior motive, she flees again, determined to earn her living through her art. This career brings her fame, but also the unwanted attention of her early abuser.  Monique Domovitch’s debut novel, Scorpio Rising, is a compelling tale filled with finely etched characters and a superb understanding of the power of ambition. Scorpio Rising promises to resonate with all who once had a dream. Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About The Sting of The Scorpio:  In Scorpio Rising, Monique Domovitch presented a compelling tale filled with colorful characters and the manipulation of power, ambition, and greed. Now she gives us its spellbinding sequel, The Sting of the Scorpio, where Alexander Ivanov returns to New York with his new bride, Brigitte. The real estate industry is ripe with opportunity. Blessed with irresistible charm, ambition, and the single-minded obsession to succeed, Alex plots and manipulates his way to almost mystical success. Everything he touches turns to gold, but it’s never enough. When a hostile takeover bid leaves him struggling to save his beloved company, he suspects those closest to him of plotting his downfall. Brigitte, the beautiful redhead who abandoned her country and her career to become his wife, feels alone. In return, Alex has betrayed her time and again, each indiscretion cutting deeper into her soul. Brigitte’s son, David yearns to be an artist, but Alex’s plans leave no room for such frivolous goals. He grooms a reluctant David to become the heir apparent until a devastating tragedy attracts the attention of another young man. The Sting of the Scorpio is a rich tale of a man at the mercy of his own greed and a woman bound by her need for love.  Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. About the Author:  Monique Domovitch began writing at the age of fifty-five. Two years later, she has two self-published novels—her Scorpio Series—and a three-book deal with Penguin, for books she has written under the name of Carol Ann Martin. Never seen without her laptop, Monique and her husband travel the world and divide the rest of their time between their homes in British Columbia and California. Monique loves to hear from readers! Visit her on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.  

Please enjoy this guest post from the author

Deciding to become a writer was a natural extension of falling in love

  People often ask me what attracted me to the life of a writer, and I have to say it was a natural extension of falling in love…with books, which I have been for as long as I can remember. I remember my mother taking me to the public library when I was as young as four years old. That was when she introduced me to Madeline, the little schoolgirl. As teenager, I discovered Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames, and then Harlequin books. And then I really fell in love for the first time. I was in England where my friends introduced me to a book by Wilbur Smith. I think I hadn't read ten pages of his book--can't remember the title anymore--when I knew this was it. I could spend the rest of my life in bed with this writer's books. Over the next few years, Wilbur Smith’s books made me discover Africa, where I met animals I'd never heard of, and villains the likes of which I hope to never meet. I was swept into his stories of love and passion and greed; stories from which I never wanted to walk away. I devoured book after book of his, until, of course, the inevitable happened. I caught up with every last one of his books and was facing a long void until his next book hit the stands. And I, fickle reader that I am, had an affair with a few other authors, and then it happened again. I read Dominic Dunne. And wham. I was in love again. With Dominic Dunne’s books, I spent time with the truly rich and the truly manipulative. How can anyone forget books like The Two Mrs. Grenvilles, or An Inconvenient Woman, or A Season in Purgatory? Once I discovered them, I was hooked. Forgive me Dominic, for I betrayed you too when I discovered my next big love, Nelson De Mille. De Mille is a master of sharp, snappy talk, and he makes all those words come out of the mouth of a sexy good cop with a bad attitude--John Corey. Now here's the funny part. I don't really know what John Corey looks like, except that he has scars on his chest from some bullet wounds. I also know that John Corey is almost as fickle when it comes to love as I am when it comes to favorite authors. He seems to fall in love with a different woman in almost every one of his adventures. That is, until he met and married Kate. But who knows, so far she's only been around for a couple of novels. For all I know she'll be dropped off, maybe even killed in the next book, and then sexy John will be available again and I can go on dreaming. Now here's something you might not know about me. I'm married, and—get this—my husband doesn't mind my little dalliances with all these authors...as long as I don't meet them in person that is. And why am I blabbing about all these loves of mine? Because, every time I start a new project, I hope with all my heart, that I infuse my novel with enough passion and ambition and greed that when you, dear reader, read my work, you will fall—perhaps just a little bit—in love with my characters. And I promise to love you right  back, even knowing that I will never be able to write fast enough to keep your from someday leaving me for some other writer. C’est la vie! Monique