New Release

The Dociles by Valerie Puri – New Release & Excerpt!

The Dociles by Valerie Puri

Walls are meant to keep the monsters out…

Deep in the forest there is a wall where no wall should be. Behind it live the people of the Commune, the last remnant of human kind.

Jennie Caraway has lived behind the wall her entire life, certain that it protects her and her brother from the lemerons, ravenous undead monsters whose only desire is to kill – and feed.

Jennie’s peaceful existence is shattered when she uncovers a secret organization whose purpose threatens to destroy not only Jennie, but her entire world. The Order has a deadly mission, and they will stop at nothing to see it completed.

Jennie and those closest to her must expose the evil truth before they are killed – or worse.

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Exclusive Excerpt

– Sash

Sash smiled as he recalled his transition into adulthood. He’d chosen his own path and proved how useful he could be to the Order. He had been doing this work ever since the day he walked away from the burning remnants of his past life. His technique had been polished over the years. He learned how to control his rage and do less conspicuous work. After all, he couldn’t burn down every building he did a job in just to cover his tracks and make it look like an accident.

Some of his targets were not so lucky as to be killed. What awaited them was something worse. Eleanor Townsend was one such target. His usual sneer crept over his lips as he thought about the hell she would soon be trapped in. She hadn’t screamed when he bagged her, though. Pity, he thought. Sash loved when they screamed.

He reached the end of the long dark tunnel. He stood before a thick steel door with a single, dim light flickering above his head. He made a fist and banged on the cold metal two times. He heard shuffling behind the door, and a strip of metal at eye-level slid away to reveal a small, rectangular window. A set of eyes masked behind tinted, round goggles peered out at him, surveying the load hoisted over his shoulder.

“I’ve got another one for processing,” Sash said.

The metal strip slid back into place covering the tiny window. Sash heard the grinding sound of metal scraping against metal as the gears were engaged to unlock the door. It swung inward to grant him entrance.

About The Author

Valerie Puri has always had a lifelong interest in all forms of artistic expression. She has tried her hand at many things, yet she always found her way back to reading and writing. With inspiration everywhere, she finally put pen to paper (or rather, fingers to keyboard) with the intent of publishing her stories.

Writing has always come naturally to Valerie, and for a time she even worked as a technical writer. She continues to hone her skills by having at least one writing project in the works at any given time. Her true passion lies in the freedom that comes with writing the stories that pour from her imagination and real life inspiration.

Valerie believes that the experiences we have in life are just stories waiting to be written.

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The Wicked We Have Done – Guest Post & Review #getWicked @sarahharian @BerkleyRomance #NewRelease #MustRead

Guys, I’m totally stoked to share with you today’s blog! 🙂

A guest post from Sarah Harian, author of The Wicked We Have Done ON RELEASE DAY! This book blew me away, literally, like off my chair! She’s a phenomenal talent, and I just cannot wait to see what her career holds for us readers! 🙂

As I was reading this lovely book, I kept wondering hmmm.. .this should have a kick ass playlist.. and LO & BEHOLD! IT does, and I’m getting to share it with you today! How lucky are we!? But before I do, a little about this book, that you’ll need to pick up, like today. 🙂

Synopsis:

Darkly suspenseful and completely unexpected, The Wicked We Have Done is a debut author’s thrilling new take on New Adult romance.

Twenty-two-year-old Evalyn Ibarra never expected to be an accused killer and experimental prison test subject. A year ago, she was a normal college student. Now she’s been sentenced to a month in the compass room—an advanced prison obstacle course designed by the government to execute justice.

If she survives, the world will know she’s innocent.

Locked up with nine notorious and potentially psychotic criminals, Evalyn must fight the prison and dismantle her past to stay alive. But the system prized for accuracy appears to be killing at random.

She doesn’t plan on making friends.

She doesn’t plan on falling in love, either.

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My Review:

Grade: A+ (Five STRONG stars)

HOLY COW! This book… yes, it drew me in, and yes, it had a bit of a Hunger Games feel, but seriously! *claps hands* GO SARAH! This book is so interesting and fresh, I am so glad to have gotten the chance to read it! I ❤ NEW IDEAS, and this book is one of them! As I’ve said in other reviews, romance books for me aren’t a grab, but add in a killer plot line and you’ve got me hooked! I love romance as long as I have a story to go along with it, and Sarah has done this. I feel as though the Compass Room was such an interesting idea, testing the morality of an accused killer, somewhat like Divergent’s testing, it really pulled out some wonderful character building as the story went on, and really gave us a new idea for a justice system.

Evalyn has to have her thoughts examined, all while playing a sort of game that will determine if she gets freedom or death. Her, along with other young people, who I must say, the author did a good job pulling quiet a few of them out of the background, and fleshing them out, even if they weren’t the main character, and I love to see that! The author really took a genre and concept that has been flying off the shelves for YA, and crafting into something deeper & stronger for the NA genre, and I’ve got to say, I was impressed.

Some people don’t like seeing books in the same vein as others, but honestly, it’s a theme, and there’s no rule that says author’s can’t play with it. Hunger Games pulled from Battle Royale, and so on and so forth, and I feel like yelling, “DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS THEME,” when I see people complaining. Sarah does an outstanding job putting her personal creative spin on this genre, and I adored it. The character’s had a really intangible strength to them, in the face of what they were undergoing, and I did think that you really pull the most from characters when you put them in situations like The Compass Room. She focuses on the story, over the romance, and doesn’t throw in any clichéd love triangle moments. Once you pick this book up, you’ll keep reading… it’s well written, with a lot of thought behind it, and it shines as a debut novel for Sarah Harian! I’m excited to see more from her!

Guest Post by Sarah – #GetWicked Playlist! 🙂

(As I run off to add these to my phone, and grab the book again!)

The Wicked We Have Done playlist is compilation of angsty and mostly dark songs. Since I have a very difficult time listening to music with lyrics while writing (my attention span is embarrassingly short), these songs resonated me while I was brainstorming—either in the car on my way to work or walking my dog. Here is my list of creepy, sad, and intense tracks for The Wicked We Have Done:

Spotify Playlist: https://play.spotify.com/user/sarahharian/playlist/4ybQgUDUGHEqJAynf7BIjU

“Seven Devils” by Florence + The Machine: This song is the ultimate creepy. I bought Florence’s album right when it came out, around the same time I was drafting TWWHD, and this song become instant fodder for me. I love how ghostly and chilling it is. It really parallels the book in a sense that the dark pasts of all of the characters are rebirthing.

“End of Me” by A Day to Remember: This song reflects a lot of the darkness of Evalyn’s past and losing those she cares deeply about. Instead of reflecting the grief of her loss, it reflects the anger she feels behind being abandoned.

“New Tricks” by Great Northern: Eerie and whimsical, this track is reminiscent of the strange horrors the characters face while in the forest of the Compass Room. It also parallels the moment when Evalyn decides to take matters into her own hands.

“Sink” by Brand New: This song is a delicious bundle of angst. It’s ragey and twisted. I feel like it represents the states of mind of all of my characters in the Compass Room, and the lengths they go to help each other when it comes to survival.

“Peace of Mind” by The Jezabels: When I first heard this song, I was in the process of revising a death scene. I cried, obviously. I think this song gives meaning to the little hope that the inmates have when they start making relationships with each other, and the refusal to believe that friends and lovers could die at any point within the prison.

“Come Clarity” by In Flames: I’ve loved this song for a long, long time. To me, it is about reflection, the presence of someone new, and their ability to erase the nightmare of the past.

“Millstone” by Eisley: This song IS Evalyn, particularly the line, “There’s not a moment to relive my time and space/ There’s not a moment to undo anything”. It encompasses her confusion and heartache in both The Wicked We Have Done and the sequel A Vault of Sins.

Don’t you love this?! Shout out! Tell me if you’ve read the book, or if you love any of these songs! I promise you, fans of NA Romance, The Hunger Games or even Thrillers, will love this book! I’ve still got it’s hook in me, and I can’t seem to shake it! So I’ll be reading it again! 🙂

About The Author:

Sarah Harian grew up in the foothills of Yosemite and received her B.A. and M.F.A. from Fresno State University. When not writing, she is usually hiking some mountain or another in the Sierras, playing video games with her husband, or rough-housing with her dog.

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Undeniable – Tawdra Kandle – #review and much more! :) Hosted by Promotional Book Tours!

At last. . .the sizzling spin-off from The King Series

UNDENIABLE: The Serendipity Duet Book One

For Rafe Brooks, running from a broken heart means losing himself in alcohol and women. Lots of women, none of whom will remember him, since he has the ability to manipulate their minds and make them forget.

Numbing the pain works until he meets an irresistible redhead with secrets of her own. She offers him the opportunity to join forces with an organization that will use his powers for good rather than his own amusement.

Jocelyn rocks his world with her unapologetic passion and makes him believe for the first time he just might survive heartbreak.

When a mission takes the two of them undercover to infiltrate a commune with suspicious activity, they discover it’s just the tip of a plot to cause world-wide anarchy. Hiding their extraordinary powers and real identities is crucial to staying alive.

For Rafe and Jocelyn, when life is uncertain, love is undeniable.

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Review:

Grade B (4 Stars)

After Rafe graduates from high school, he leaves town and goes on a drinking binge trying to get over his broken heart. He winds up in New Orleans where he meets the headstrong Jocelyn. She is there to recruit him for a job working at the consulting firm she is employed by. This job allows them to help people with special powers to use them for good and not evil. Together they get in more trouble they you can imagine.

They have been working together for a while when they finally get a mission that may not end well for them. They accept and give it their all. You are taken for a wonderful action packed ride. During all of this they realize they may have a love that is deep and will last more than a. Lifetime together.

This book has mystery, action and heartwarming affections. It has funny moments, emotional draining moments and takes you on an action packed thrill ride.

*I was given this book in return for an honest review.

About the Author

Tawdra Thompson Kandle lives in central Florida with her husband, children, cats and dog. She loves homeschooling, cooking, traveling and reading, not necessarily in that order. And yes, she has purple hair.

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#Cover #Reveal! The Risen Dawning: Anniversary Edition! You need this book! @MarieFCrow #giveaway #zombies #CollectorsEdition #FridayReads

If there’s one thing in my blogging journey that really makes me proud, it’s the fact that Marie F Crow, the visionary genius behind The Risen series, has chosen this blog to be the home of her killer books! 🙂 I was lucky enough to reach out to Marie and beg her to let me read a copy and review it, and finally she did! It’s been heaven ever since, so I can’t even explain to you how excited I am for this! This Anniversary edition of The Risen Dawning is loaded with new scenes, and will get better insight to readers about some of their favorite characters! I’m so excited I could burst! 🙂 I’ve heard rumors this book, “reads like a whole new story”

Get Excited

Giveaway Note!

Marie F Crow is giving away a signed Dawning on her Facebook Page! Go enter to win!!

Synopsis:

Helena Hawthorn has lived her entire life in the dark shadow of her perfect younger siblings, The Hawthorn Angels. Now as the world awakens to a new horror, she will have to risk everything to keep them safe or forever be haunted by the failure to keep them alive. Each day will bring a new victory, or a new scar, as Helena learns that the dawn waits for no one.

With her newly bonded family, the local motorcycle club G.R.I.T., they will discover the world now holds much deeper horrors for them than they could have ever imagined. The Risen not only stalk the earth but stalk their nightmares as well.

And Finally, The covers! 🙂

Aren’t they totally just what you would want? I know I want that zombie face sitting on my coffee table! It’s perfect! Stay tuned to the blog for more updates as to other new Marie F Crow books, and when you can grab your own copy of The Risen Dawning Anniversary edition! 🙂

About The Author:

Marie F Crow is the author of the post-apocalyptic series, The Risen. She weaves her stories around the human element of the horror verses the “monsters” themselves. She believes that the real horror of life does not come from the expected, but from the unexpected responses of the human nature and what depths of trauma a person has to survive in certain situations. She began writing The Risen series when feeling that the popular genre was slipping too deep into the realm of pure “slasher” and forgetting what the horror of zombies can mean for a story.

Now with her children’s series launched, Marie hopes to use her favorite “monster” as a teaching tool to inspire children to understand that not everything that looks scary, is scary. With Abigail and Her Pet Zombie series, Marie hopes to further spread her love for all things “that go bump in the night” with small children showing them that it’s okay to be different and to embrace those same differences in those around them.

Marie F. Crow

Stalk Her!

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#Undeniable – #Book Tour – #Review and #Giveaway! Check it out! Hosted by Promotional Book Tours

At last. . .the sizzling spin-off from The King Series

UNDENIABLE: The Serendipity Duet Book One

Jocelyn rocks his world with her unapologetic passion and makes him believe for the first time he just might survive heartbreak.

For Rafe and Jocelyn, when life is uncertain, love is undeniable.

Buy on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Review:

Reviewed by Catherine for Sunshine & Mountains

Grade: B (Four Stars)

This book has mystery, action and heartwarming affections. It has funny moments, emotional draining moments and takes you on an action packed thrill ride.

**I was given this book in return for an honest review.

About the Author

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Review: Palace of Spies by Sarah Zettel – Comedic, Sassy, YA book with a twist! :) Coming November 2013! @HMHbooks @sarah_zettel

Author – Sarah Zettel

Title – Palace of Spies

Publisher – HMH Books for Young Readers

Genre – Historical Fiction, Mystery
Received from Harcourt Children’s Books on Netgalley

Releases November 5, 2013

Synopsis:

A warning to all young ladies of delicate breeding who wish to embark upon lives of adventure: Don’t.
Sixteen-year-old Peggy is a well-bred orphan who is coerced into posing as a lady in waiting at the palace of King George I. Life is grand, until Peggy starts to suspect that the girl she’s impersonating might have been murdered. Unless Peggy can discover the truth, she might be doomed to the same terrible fate. But in a court of shadows and intrigue, anyone could be a spy—perhaps even the handsome young artist with whom Peggy is falling in love . . .

History and mystery spark in this effervescent series debut.

Review:

Grade: A

This ARC was such a pleasure to read! It was the perfect mix of historical fiction and mystery and a perfect YA book! Peggy is such a fun character to get to know and explore this world with. She’s cunning, smart and quite funny, and she needs all her wits to solve the mystery. She has been turned out of her uncle’s home upon refusing her betrothal, and a mysterious stranger sets her up in King George’s Court..She’s got to become a spy!

I loved this book, and the idea. She’s a great heroine, she doesn’t mope, and complain, and wallow, she gets up and gets going. She’s smart, and her dialogue is as well. Snappy and witty, and it works so well. The character definitely has a knack for fitting is, and she finds herself in the middle of things, and she just uses her wits to get her out. Such a great example for the YA genre, no moping ladies here who need saved! She even gets a little bit of romance in the story, which is nice, considering how the beginning went.

Overall, this book is well written, organized well, and flows so easily, you don’t realize how much you’ve read! I was flipping pages so fast I couldn’t believe it. The murder mystery, along with the palace life, and the romantic entanglement, it was all just so compelling, I had to know more. The author does a great job keeping history consistant, and present throughout the books as well, lending a bit of education material to a wonderful spy story! I’d highly recommend this one! This author has such a wonderful writing style, I’m definitely going to check out the other books she’s written! I’d love to read more but this one was such a fun read! 🙂

**I received an ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley for my review.

About the Author

Sarah Zettel is the critically acclaimed author of more than twenty novels, spanning the full range of genre fiction. Her debut novel, Reclamation, won the Locus Award for Best First Novel. Her second release, Fool’s War, was a 1997 New York Times Notable Book, and the American Library Association named Playing God one of the Best Books for Young Adults of 1999. Her novel Bitter Angels won the Philip K. Dick Award for best science fiction paperback in 2009. Her latest novel, Dust Girl, was named as one of the best young adult books of the year by both Kirkus Reviews and the American Library Association. Zettel lives in Michigan with her husband, her rapidly growing son, and her cat, Buffy the Vermin Slayer.

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Can’t Go Home Cover Reveal!

Book: Can’t Go Home
Author: Angelisa Stone
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: September 26, 2013
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Everyone has secrets; secrets meant to be kept—hidden away where nobody can discover the truth. Adrian O’Donnell (aka: Dre Donley) is no exception. Dre spins tales and half-truths like it’s his job, keeping the reality of his past buried deep within each lie he fabricates. On the other hand, Kathryn Howell is the exception to the rule. She’s a straight-shooter, a tell-it-like-it-is, no filter kind of girl.

Kathryn’s honesty and straightforwardness is the ultimate turn on for a guy like Dre. He’s never met someone so sincere, so full of truth and innocence. Their chemistry is unavoidable, their connection, magnetic. When Dre sets out to make Kathryn fall for him, he doesn’t realize the grave mistake he’s making. Kathryn’s strength and convictions do not falter, even for an irresistible man like Dre. When his past resurfaces, and the lies come tumbling forth, Kathryn must decide if his deceit and betrayal can be forgiven or if the damage is irreparable. Will the truth ultimately destroy the relationship that neither one of them could deny or even attempt to resist?

This novel is for mature readers only, due to language and sexual content.

Who is Angelisa Stone?

Angelisa Stone is a typical Midwestern wife and mom, frazzled by parenting and housework, and overwhelmed with sports schedules, doctor appointments, and three-dimensional creative projects due “tomorrow morning.” Angelisa dreams of white sandy beaches, clear-blue waters, and Midori coladas in hand, but realizes that her loving husband and four not-so-perfect children are her real dreams-come-true. Writing and reading are her passions, and she hopes (and prays with her fingers tightly crossed) that readers will find enjoyment and escape through her words and characters.

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Can’t Go Home – Cover Reveal

Book: Can’t Go Home
Author: Angelisa Stone
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: September 26, 2013
Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

This novel is for mature readers only, due to language and sexual content.

Who is Angelisa Stone?

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS

Deadly Deception Cover Reveal

Cover Reveal: Deadly Deception by

Andrea Johnson Beck

Cover by Montlake Romance

Synopsis

Dr. Anne Jamison, a brilliant neuropsychiatrist, is living
the concrete jungle life in Minneapolis with her fiancé, prominent attorney
Adam Whitney. But the mysterious death of Carter Leeds, her beloved former
boyfriend, still haunts her…

After three years of unanswered questions, a mysterious
package finds its way to Anne. The note inside reveals the possibility that
Carter may, in fact, be alive. Even more shocking, her very own fiancé may have
had a hand in his attempted demise. Anne doesn’t know what—or who—to believe,
and the deeper she digs, the more she is overcome by a dangerous game of cat
and mouse. But will Anne’s trust be restored—or will she be the one left
plotting revenge?

Author Biography

Andrea Johnson Beck is a homeschool teacher in North
Carolina, where she lives with her husband and young son. Beck vowed to write a
full-length book before her thirtieth birthday, which she accomplished just
weeks shy of her deadline. Deadly Deception is the first in her series of
contemporary romantic thrillers. She also writes monthly articles for
Homeschool Mosaics and In-Depth Genealogist.

Stay in touch with Andrea Johnson Beck through

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Exclusive! The Risen: Remnants Cover Reveal and The Risen: Margaret Review! @MarieFCrow

The Risen: Remnants

by Marie F. Crow

Novella – Zombie

Marie F. Crow Publishing

Soon to be released!

Please Lord, Don’t let my daughter see me die today.

Beth Clark lives on the edge of an abyss. Everyday is spent fighting for her survival, and the survival of her teen daughter, Genny. Their lives have been shattered by a vaccine that was supposed to have been a modern miracle. A vaccine that is turning the living into monstrosities of their former selves.

Now, only remnants remain of their past lives. Mother and Daughter will struggle to survive with what this new world hold for them as they discover the dawning of The Risen.

Marie F. Crow’s website

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Marie F. Crow on Twitter

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The Risen: Dawning on Amazon

The Risen:Dawning on Goodreads

The Risen: Margaret on Amazon

The Risen: Margaret on Goodreads

Marie F Crow believes that monsters should keep you up at night with the thoughts of “what if” stalking your mind. She began writing horror after feeling the genre of zombie horror was getting too far away from actual horror, forgetting what a zombie is, and what that can mean to your world.

The recent advents of movies and literature have pushed the concept of the flesh eating undead too far into the realm of the mundane and cute. There is a need to once more rehash the genre with the proper respect to the psychological ramifications, and sheer horror, that the monsters deserve.

That sheer horror of possibly having to kill your friends, family, or anyone else for that matter before they become a shambling corpse willing, even driven, to consume the flesh of their own. The psychological destruction to the minds of the living their deaths could cause to those around them.

With the release of The Risen series, she hopes to, once again, breathe fear back into the genre that has always been a favorite of hers. Crafting her stories with honest emotions, and believable circumstances, she creates her world with an added twist to the classic monsters. She believes nothing is sacred in the land of horror inviting the reader to explore the depth of that concept by luring them deeper into her realm with visual images and emotional drama wrapped with a sparkling, gore dripping bow.

With open arms, she welcomes them back into the world of horror hoping they enjoy the ride, but requests they do keep all their limbs inside the ride at all times. The Risen are waiting, and they are hungry.

There’s supposed to be a plus after that A but my cool horror font didn’t want to allow that! 🙂

This is another amazing, A+ review for Marie F. Crow!

Another outstanding book by the author of The Risen: Dawning. Margaret’s story is a wonderful, and much needed, side story for those of us going through Marie F Crow withdrawal. I am dying, waiting for the next book, and this book was able to save me. This book brought me out of my dark, sad, lonely pit that I threw myself in after The Risen: Dawning ended. I wallowed but then got Margaret, and I’m so incredibly glad I did.

As negative review point out, this book is very detailed. So if you want a easy read, don’t want to actually have an amazing storyline that you’ll be tied up in, or really have to think at all. There’s zombie books for that, ones that don’t challenge to conceptions, don’t make you think. This isn’t that one. Crow challenges the zombie genre, she enflames it, she makes it better and brighter. She is perfect. I just reached the point before reading her first book that I was fed up with zombie stories. Everyone follows the same idea, and it just got to be too much. Crow doesn’t do that; Crow renewed my faith in this genre.

This book is incredibly well written, just like the earlier ones. It’s got such a strong concept; beautifully written and heartbreaking. It’s in the perspective of a 5 year old Kindergarten student. There are comments about the ending, and yes, I will admit, I joined people. The ending is hard, prepare yourself, but Crow writes an amazing story, and doesn’t rely on gimmicks. This story ends how you’d expect it to end. That’s the thing about her writing. She’s not moving us to some world where the rules we’d see in real life has changed, and the cripple in the wheelchair can fend off the zombies easily. This book is how the zombie story would play out. It’s survival of the fittest, the strongest. The people that may survive in the end are those that will be able to stay healthy the longest, fight the zombies off. It’s not for the young, the weak or the old.

As I’ve said in earlier reviews, I love Crow’s writing style. Crow finds a way to make a zombie massacre beautiful. She writes both the good and the bad same way. She makes the beautiful, tragic at times, but beautiful none the less. She gives us zombies to fear, people to love, and a storyline to sink our teeth into, and that could sink it’s teeth into us! Margaret is no exception. This little novella was amazing. It has all the right ups and downs and was a perfect companion novel to The Risen Dawning. Crow does an amazing job pulling us into the book, and taking us on this ride, but it doesn’t guarantee a happy ending, it doesn’t guarantee safety. You come on this ride knowing that you have no guarantees but you have an amazingly written story, amazing characters, and a very very good story.

You won’t regret picking up a single book by Marie F Crow, she’s an amazing writer, with a clear eye for story, and a whole lot of dedication to the genre. She knows how to write a story that will tie us up in. She’s definitely one to watch. Out of all the zombie novels I’ve read, or movies I’ve seen, no one gives us the perspective and detail that Marie F Crow does.

I can not wait to read the next one and see the other things coming from Marie F Crow in the future! 🙂

**I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own **