The second book in the new Southern Ghost Hunter mysteries.
A haunted library is no place for a girl who can see ghosts, but when Verity Long stumbles on a dead body in the middle of the main reading room, she has to believe someone…even a dead someone…must have witnessed the crime. Her ghostly sidekick Frankie warns her to stay out of it. The very alive, very handsome deputy sheriff, Ellis Wydell, inadvertently places her directly in the middle of it. And her ex-fiancé, Ellis’s brother, is back with an agenda of his own. Undaunted, Verity presses forward, uncovering scandalous secrets, long-forgotten ghosts, and a shocking trail of clues that places her directly in the path of a killer.
From the cover to the characters to the the mystery unraveling throughout the pages, this book screams….. FUN, FUN, FUN!!
And the award for FUNNIEST CHARACTER OF ALL goes to………Maisie. She reminds me of the Granny from The Beverly Hillbillies. (I attached the photo in case you are too young to remember the show or simply never watched it.)
See, “Granny” is packing heat just like Maisie. It makes me wonder if Angie had her in mind when she wrote the part.
Folks, trust me, you’ll be entertained by this story. It has ghosts, poltergeist, murder mystery, a scandal cover-up, and one pet skunk. 🙂
1. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
(Destiny) Hello! I’m a romantic suspense/thriller author, and oh boy, do I love saying that! My life is simple. I work hard, dream big, and play often. I live in Botetourt County, Virginia with my husband and son. I strive daily to be the best wife, mother, and writer that I can be. I want happily-ever-after. I want to believe in the basic good of the world. At the end of the day, I want to be proud of myself! That’s me. Pretty boring, right? I started writing as an outlet to horrible teenage hormones. Lol. It is, and has always been, my escape from reality.
2. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
(Destiny) I take a break and reread what I’ve written. Usually, I get lucky and that puts me back into the story. If that doesn’t work, I read something else and come back and try again.
3. Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
(Destiny) When not writing, I’m a chauffeur for my son to and from every sporting event imaginable. I clean house, wash clothes, try to exercise (ha ha), watch TV, and read. It is a rare thing to find me without a book in my hand. And, that is pretty much it. Like I said, I’m so boring! 🙂
4. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?
(Destiny) Yes, everyone close to me knows I write. I am fortunate to be surrounded by very supportive family and friends. My writing career began as a community journalist, and I have been lucky to have features about my novels in the paper I used to work for. Because I live in a small town, almost everyone knows I write. I hope their thoughts are something like: That Destiny Booze is one of the most talented romantic suspense authors I have ever read. **wink, wink**
5. Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
(Destiny) Oh yes, it is a long list. Some of my favorites are Tami Hoag, Dean Koontz, Allison Brennan, Dana Marton, Debra Webb, J.R. Ward, Harlan Coben, Erica Spindler, Lisa Scottoline, and Lisa Gardner.
6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
(Destiny) I would choose my newest book, Against the Game. I would love to see Theo James play Eric, because I’m crushing hard on him with the release of the Divergent movies. For the heroine, I would cast Brittany Robertson. I think she can come across as both vulnerable and tough, which fits Lacey.
7. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
(Destiny) I am working on a romantic thriller about a deaf girl whose twin sister goes missing. I don’t have a title for this one yet. Be sure to throw any ideas my way! 🙂
8. Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
(Destiny) My books are available online at most stores. I have one series available, but those stories can also be read as stand-alones. I have them all listed on my website with blurbs, excerpts, book trailers, and more for anyone interested.
9. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
(Destiny) Absolutely. There’s a contact page on my website, or you can email me directly at destinyboozeauthor@gmail.com.
10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
(Destiny) Yes! I just had a book released on 9/4/15 called Against the Game. I’m excited to hear what readers think of it!
First, I want to thank Destiny for sitting down with me. It was a great pleasure learning more about you and your creations.
Next, for those visiting us, I hope you enjoyed the interview and took a moment to watch the trailer for Against The Game – the story I am reviewing today.
Below, Destiny and I have provided a SNEAK PEEK for the story of the hour.
Enjoy and, as always, comments – questions- or simple HOWDY is welcomed and appreciated. Come on, ladies and gents, lets show Destiny some love!!
Eric Teague is moments away from making history. Thanks to him, the world of gaming is about to experience technology like it has never seen before. When his new establishment, Against the Game, opens, playing video games will be a thing of the past.
At Against the Game, players experience the game as if it is real in a virtual reality. There is no TV, no console with wires and controllers. The game feels absolutely real. Kids get so much more than puppeteering cartoonish characters through a game of basketball. No matter the person’s health or physical ability, they will be the characters in a world without limits and they will experience what it is really like to compete as a pro ball player.
During test trials, kids called Against the Game “amazing,” “fantastic,” and “miraculous.” One kid declared it was the best experience of his life. Indeed, everyone knew it was going to be something big enough to alter the whole gaming industry. For Eric, it meant a long awaited dream come true.
But, all too soon, reality breaks into Eric’s moment when something goes terribly wrong. He and his best friend Lacey get trapped in the virtual reality of the supercomputer behind his establishment. It is definitely no longer just a game. The danger is real. The consequences are real. And, Eric and Lacey’s fight for survival is more than real.
To live, they must win, and to win, they must overcome the biggest challenge of all: to trust and to love.
There were more than a couple snakes, more than ten, upwards of even hundreds. There had to be thousands of them. The dirt of the tunnel was hardly visible beneath the reptiles. Indeed, the floor looked as if it moved.
It would be impossible to walk through them without getting bit. Would he have time to hit the button before he died in the game? He had to get out before the venom killed him. That was the only way he would survive.
He looked down at his bare feet and cringed. No matter, he had to do this! There was no other way out of there. He had to get to that red exit button so he could save Lacey and Paula. Nothing else mattered.
Why wouldn’t his damn feet move?
Taking a deep breath, he strived for courage. He pictured Lacey in his mind, reminding himself what he was doing this for. She needed him and he would not let her down.
After one more breath, he took one hesitant step forward, burrowing his foot slowly down between the snakes, feeling for the floor. He had to use his toes to ease in between them, even scoot a few out of his way. If he could manage not to hurt them, maybe he could avoid a bite. Maybe.
He had to force himself not to jerk away from the feel of the snakes sliding against his bare foot. This was absolute torture. It was hell.
Finally, he placed his foot to the floor and moved forward with the next foot. One step was down and he wasn’t bitten. He tried to move as little as possible, but he was helpless against the trembling that violently shook him.
Eric didn’t consider himself a coward. Only an idiot wouldn’t have been scared. He was smart enough to know he was probably one step closer to his death.
His foot hit the floor again, so he attempted step number three. He held his breath through the next few steps when he felt some very large snakes in the mix. It had to have been a python. At least that kind of snake wasn’t poisonous. The bite wouldn’t kill him. It would just cause a lot of pain.
Eric winced when he felt a sharp pain just above his left ankle. It was a snake bite. He tried hard not to jerk away, afraid that would cause more bites. It hurt so badly. This snake didn’t give a quick bite and recoil. No, it bit and started chewing.
Without any other choice, he ignored the pain and kept going, dragging the snake along. His next step was wobbly and he stepped down on a snake. It bit, a quick attack this time, not clinging to him like the other one. Then, he felt another bite. Maybe it was a different snake or maybe it was a second bite from the same one.
It was time to get moving. Going slow wasn’t working anymore.
He quit worrying about where his feet went and started moving faster. Leaping over the snakes and landing softly became the new strategy. He had to get to that exit sign as quickly as possible.
The snakes continued to bite him with just about every step he took. He kept close to the wall and used one hand for balance so he didn’t fall. If he went down, he wouldn’t get back up.
He started feeling nauseous. His head started swimming and he had to lean on the wall more and more as he went. Who knew what kind of snake venom he had in his blood stream by now? He knew one thing was for sure. He didn’t have much time or he was not going to make it to that button.
The distance seemed more and more impossible to him even though he was now three quarters of the way there. He didn’t think he would make it before he passed out. He hated damn snakes. He did not want to die this way!
His feet grew slick beneath him and Eric knew the moisture was blood, his blood. His hands began to tingle and he realized he had bites there as well. Were these stupid snakes jumping now?
Three more steps and he went down. He couldn’t help it. His legs just gave out. He had no choice but to start crawling.
The reptiles went into a biting frenzy, attacking him everywhere at once, and he let out a scream. Many of them stayed attached, flopping against him. The pain was everywhere now. He couldn’t distinguish one bite from the next. He hurt all over.
This was a terrifyingly for-real horror movie scene. He couldn’t think of a more horrific way to go out of this world, but he didn’t stop. He couldn’t. He had to keep moving! It was definitely a miracle that he made it to the end of the hall, but he did. The exit button sat above his head, ready for him to push it, but he couldn’t get up. He tried. The tingling that was in his hands had spread everywhere. He was numb, whether from a side effect of venom or from a state of shock, he couldn’t be sure. “Come on!” he growled at himself. He tried again, digging his fingers into the wall to pull himself up. Again, he thought of Lacey. He couldn’t let her die because of his creation. That was unacceptable to him. He shook violently, but his body did rise. He used his very last burst of energy to slam his fist into the exit button. Then, he let himself fall into unconsciousness.
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
I’ve seen virtual reality plots played out in books/movies before but Destiny took the idea and cranked it up a notch. This world would most definitely be any true gamers’ wet dream; that is after version 2.0 comes out.
Original copy had some features that would scare most people. Ex. gigantic spiders, huge-ass ants, and pain.
See, no fun. That’s why 2.0 is needed, if not for others reasons……….
I won’t go into too many details because I don’t want to spoil the ending but there’s more potential to Against the Game (game) that even Eric had envisioned.
Eric is a brilliant man. This is a brilliant book and I am officially a FAN of Destiny Booze.
1. For those who might not be familiar with you, would you be a dear and tell the readers a little about yourself? How did you get your start in the writing business?
(Elaine) Thanks, happy to be here! I’ve written since I was young. I’m one of those bizarre people who has every day of junior high and high school written down in journals. As I grew older, I began to write short stories and eventually novel-length fiction. While several of my paranormal/urban fantasy books are available, the main series I’m working on is my Southern Ghosts Series, which readers are enjoying.
2. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, please share how you handle it.
(Elaine) I’m still learning how, LOL. One thing to note is that writer’s block is different from not being motivated. Or procrastinating because the author is afraid of failure/success/the reappearance of bellbottoms/etc.
I write my books on the computer. To combat a real block, I will hand scribble down notes of what I intend to write, what needs to happen in a specific scene. Somehow the freeness of handwriting breaks through the block. And that’s what it’s all about—tricking your mind into working for you, not against you.
3. Contrary to what some people envision about a romance writer’s life, it’s not all glitz and glam. Well not for the majority of us. With that bubble sadly busted, when you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
(Elaine) I enjoy reading (don’t we all?) but I admit I have the bad habit of Netflix binging. There are few truly amazing shows out there, so when the ones I love come on Netflix (LOST, Bloodline, Dexter, The Walking Dead), I get hooked and watch them. LOST was probably my biggest vice. There were a few days where that’s all I did. Laundry and watch 9 episodes of LOST. *looks around, waiting to be judged* That extreme is only for really, really good shows though, which I believe help me as a storyteller so it’s not all wasted time.
4. I know many writers, such as myself, keep their pastime/career a secret. Do those close to you know you write? If so, what are their thoughts?
(Elaine) My friends and family know that I write and they have been wonderfully supportive. That being said, I don’t tell anyone at my day job that I write. I have a fortunate situation where I have freedom/flexibility at my day job. As long as deadlines are met, I can balance day job responsibilities and writing.
5. Will you share with us your all-time favorite authors? If you’re like me, it’s a long list so give us your top ten.
(Elaine) In no particular order, with the exception of Dennis Lehane being first, here you go: Dennis Lehane, Cornelia Funke, Pat Conroy, Terry Kay, JR Ward, Deena Ward, Tiffany Reisz, Jennifer Weiner, Liliana Hart, and Diana Gabaldon.
6. If you could choose one book to go to the big screen, yours or otherwise, which book would you choose and whom would you love to see cast in the parts?
I would probably pick the first book in my Southern Ghosts Series, “No Grits, No Glory.” I set the book in Savannah, one of my favorite places on Earth, and I could see it doing well on the big screen.
Cast? Main heroine – Linda Fiorentino. Main hero – Tom Cruise. Heroine’s older brother Declan – James McAvoy.
I’m not one of those huge Tom Cruise fans, but the way he looked in “Rock of Ages” playing a musician is very close to how I pictured the character.
7. Would you care to tell us what you’re working on now? That is if it’s not top-secret information. If so, just whisper it in my ear. I swear it’ll go no further.
(Elaine) I’m continuing to write books in the Southern Ghosts Series. Book #3 (Krewe of Souls) comes out Nov 18 and I’m putting the finishing touches on it before sending it to my editor. I have 8 books planned for the series, though I haven’t decided which state to do next. Maybe Tennessee. Or Kentucky. The characters for both those states are vying for my attention and I can only pick one.
My other series, The Elemental Clans, still has 1 more book I want to write. Likely in 2016.
8. Where can we find your stories, and is there a particular reading order?
(Elaine) My books are available on most major retailers like Apple,Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. For buy links and to see the order, visithttp://www.elainecalloway.com/books/
9. Would you please share how your present and future fans can contact you?
(Elaine) Yes! I love hearing from readers and fans.
10. Before we conclude this enlightening interview, do you have anything else you’d like to share? The stage is all yours.
(Elaine) Feel free to reach out to me with any further questions! I also speak to groups about indie publishing and the business aspects of marketing, so use the contact form on my website if you’re interested.
Thanks again for having me here!
Thank you, Elaine, for sitting down with me. It was truly a pleasure!!
Ladies and gents, I want to also thank you for stopping by today. Your visits always warm my heart. Now before you run off to the real world, stick around a bit longer and check out The Southern Ghosts series.
As always, feedback – comments- questions- or a simple howdy is all welcomed and appreciated. *big smile*
Brianna fled to Savannah to escape the voices of the dead. Just when she thought she’d left all paranormal things behind, she discovers her house is haunted. Not just haunted, but haunted by Southern ghosts. These persistent beings not only hide her white shoes after Labor Day, but they leave grits-caked dishes in the sink, and swear to wreak havoc on her life – – unless she helps them. Steven put Savannah in his rearview mirror years ago to follow his passion for music. When his band splits up and he can’t reach his little sister for weeks, he races home—only to learn his whole family died in a mysterious house fire. The house Brianna now lives in. Together, Brianna and Steven learn who murdered Steven’s family and become caught in a web of intrigue.
—–> REVIEW <—–
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
When I first started reading this story, I kept hearing in my head “I See Dead People”. Man, I really want to watch The Sixth Sense again. That movie, like this book, was awesome!
Virginia was, by far, my favorite ghost. Gotta love a woman (ghost) who sings off key just to irritate someone. That’s gonna be me one day (if ghosts are real and I become one).
However, the best parts of the book came towards the end.
Two tear jerking reunions. I mean, I didn’t actual cry, but for softies out there —- grab a tissue. Very sweet!!
I must mention why I gave this story 4❤ instead of 5. Unless I missed it, I don’t think Elaine explained how Begley knew Brianna broke into his office. Did he have cameras setup? If she explained it and I missed it, please let me know.
Heart Rating System 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) Score:❤❤❤❤
Possessing the Witch by Elle James
Selene Chattox doesn’t know what—or who—she’ll find when she follows her premonition to the river’s edge. When she discovers Gryph Leone, the spirit witch brings the injured stranger home, determined to resist the desire he stirs. But as he heals, she knows fate has brought them together. And as their passion ignites, so does the danger…
Siren’s Callby Debbie Herbert
Lily Borsage is the ultimate siren: gorgeous, aloof, and irresistible to all men in Bayou La Siryna. That is, until Nashoba Bowman returns to town. The Native American kid whose innocent first kiss Lily remembers fondly is all grown up, hot as an Alabama summer—and immune to Lily’s charms. What self-respecting mermaid could resist finding out more?
Witches, shifters, and psychopaths should’ve held my interest but unfortunately I found the stories lacking in intrigue. The whack-jobs’ identities were no mystery at all and their climatic demises were far from climatic. Here I thought a battle between a wolf and lion (Possessing the Witch) would be epic. It was epic…..an epic fail.
Same disappointing battle between Nash/Lily/and their nemesis.
A soldier introduces himself to the Peterson family, claiming to be a friend of their son who died in action. After the young man is welcomed into their home, a series of accidental deaths seem to be connected to his presence.
I usually don’t review movies but I couldn’t resist sharing my thoughts on this film. I can sum up my feelings in four short words.
It was FREAKING FANTASTIC!!!!!
If you love B rated thrillers then you’ll adore this film. The dialogue was hilarious, fight scenes were ridiculous and in true cheesy thriller fashion, the bad guy got up from fatal wounds.
I’m not kidding you when I say the killer gave a thumbs up when the teenager got the upper hand on him.
