#Review: The Z Contingency By W.I. Eganson @WIEganson

The Z Contingency
By W.I. Eganson
Genre: Science-Fiction

Book Description:

A world-renowned virologist with an uncanny knack for predicting outbreaks of viral hemorrhagic fevers has a terrifying realization that one of these viruses will soon mutate into something that kills its victims, but also moves them about to further spread the virus.

In an attempt to prevent the start of a zombie apocalypse, he needs to create a vaccine before the virus naturally appears, so he needs the help a colleague to help create the very virus he predicted.

Something convinces her to help him in spite of every fiber in her being screaming out against it, but before the two scientists are able to work on the vaccine, the unthinkable happens….

  

Excerpt:

It seems highly unlikely that the virus, no matter how many mutations, will be able to maintain higher-level cortical functions, but it may well be sufficient to innervate the brainstem and the autonomic nervous system. It is unclear at this point how long this state can be maintained, as the model does not predict how the neurons will receive nutrients and oxygen following organ failure; however, it is possible that the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems may operate to keep what circulation would be minimally necessary to sustain the neuronal activity.

My Review:

I was given a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

I gave The Z Contingency a five star rating only because that was the highest rating I could give it. If I could give it my own rating I would give it a hundred stars. I am sitting here typing this and thinking that you are probably wondering why I would give it a hundred star rating. Am I right? Of course I am and I am not being sarcastic at all I am just saying. No, no, no seriously the reason I would give it such a high rating is because I have told my family over and over again that the zombie virus could actually come true. Maybe not in the way that we think or have seen on tv or even read in a book. The thing that I have said again and again is that the CDC has all kinds of viruses and a lot of them. They have so many that there is no way we could ever know what or how many they have. But of course there is no way they are ever going to let any kind of information like that out in the public either. So yes I do believe that there may be a virus at the CDC that could actually start a zombie apocalypse.

So therefore I really and truly loved, loved reading The Z Contingency so, so much. I was like yes a book where the virus came from the CDC just like what I have been saying all along. While I was reading it I would get so mad at myself because I couldn't get into it. I know that doesn't make any sense right? Well let me explain ok it is like this you know how a writer gets writers block well I had reader's block while reading it. I hate getting readers block so bad especially when you are reading a book that is out of this world.

Ok now that I have told you how much I really liked the book let me tell you a little of what the book is about. There are a couple of the characters that work for the CDC and they are Gary and Natalie. They study these viruses and try to find a cure for them. Gary has this gift of predicting a virus outbreak. Gary is working real hard on trying to find a cure for a hemorrhagic fever virus that could make people act like zombies, but before he can find the cure the CDC starts sending people on furlough. Gary is not real keen about this idea at this particular time but unfortunately he has no choice.

But when someone breaks into the CDC and yes I said break into the CDC, a friend of Gary's Simon his roommate from college calls him up to help him find the person who stole the virus hopefully before it is let out in to the world and infects millions and millions of people. Gary needs Natalie's help in finding the cure so after Simon finds him they start out on a quest to find Natalie before it is too late to save the world. Will Simon and Gary find Natalie in time? Can Natalie and Gary save the world from the biggest catastrophic events of all time? Pick up your copy of The Z Contingency today to find out. You will not regret it if you love zombies!

About The Author:

W.I. Eganson leads a double life in the San Francisco Bay Area. By day, Eganson helps people live better lives working at a large healthcare organization, then turns to plotting good against evil with a selection of mighty fountain pens (or computer) by night. The Z Contingency is Eganson's debut novel.

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Guest Post: Mind Games By Christine Amsden @ChristineAmsden #Giveaway

Mind Games: a Cassie Scot novel
By Christine Amsden
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
Release date: April 15, 2014 ebook; June 15, 2014 trade paperback

Blurb

Beware your heart and soul…

Evan broke Cassie's heart two months ago, and she still doesn't know why. She throws herself into family, friends and her new job at the sheriff's department, but nothing helps. The only thing that finally allows her heal and move on is the love of a new man, mind mage Matthew Blair. Cassie finds him…irresistible.

Matthew may also be the only one who can help keep the non-magical residents of Eagle Rock from going crazy over the murder of a beloved pastor's wife. It looks like a sorcerer is to blame, but while Cassie tries to figure out who, others take matters into their own hands. With tensions running so hot, a single spark might set Eagle Rock ablaze.

Read the First Chapter here. (Warning: Contains series spoilers. New readers to the series would be better off checking out the preview of book one below.)

Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective
By Christine Amsden
Published: May 15th 2013
Publisher: Twilight Times Books

Cassie Scot is the ungifted daughter of powerful sorcerers, born between worlds but belonging to neither. At 21, all she wants is to find a place for herself, but earning a living as a private investigator in the shadow of her family's reputation isn't easy. When she is pulled into a paranormal investigation, and tempted by a powerful and handsome sorcerer, she will have to decide where she truly belongs.

Read the First Chapter here.

Secrets and Lies (Cassie Scot #2)
By Christine Amsden
Published: November 15th 2013
Publisher:Twilight Times Books

Blurb

Cassie Scot, still stinging from her parents' betrayal, wants out of the magical world. But it isn't letting her go. Her family is falling apart and despite everything, it looks like she may be the only one who can save them.

To complicate matters, Cassie owes Evan her life, making it difficult for her to deny him anything he really wants. And he wants her. Sparks fly when they team up to find two girls missing from summer camp, but long-buried secrets may ruin their hopes for happiness.

Guest Post:

"Normal" Detective

Paranormal sleuths and detectives are everywhere - in books, on TV, and in movies. The world is on a fantasy kick and pop culture has responded in earnest. Heroes are larger than life, and myths are coming to life before our eyes. The supernatural is a ton of fun, but there comes a point where a writer has to ask herself: What can I add to all this?

That's where my "normal" detective agency came in. The fresh angle for me, I decided, was in the character, not in the magic. Cassie isn't a chosen one, or a superhero, or the most powerful (whatever) ever to walk the planet. In fact, she's surrounded by people who kind of fit those descriptions, but she's got no magic of her own.

I'm a character girl, and this was the story I wanted to tell. The Cassie Scot series isn't really about magic or vampires (although I throw plenty of that in and have fun with it), it's about a young woman who doesn't know who she is, but she knows who she isn't.

Well, she thinks she does. She's wrong. Cassie is young yet (21) and has a lot to learn. Didn't we all at that age?

"Normal" is not a dirty word, although Cassie almost thinks of it that way. Each and every one of us has something special within us, something we can offer to the world. We can each, in little ways, be heroes. In a world full of pop culture references to powerful, prophetic people, I thought that this was important to remember. You don't have to wait for destiny to call you to be a hero. You can make the choice to use your strengths for the good of others.

About The Author:

Christine Amsden has been writing fantasy and science fiction for as long as she can remember. She loves to write and it is her dream that others will be inspired by this love and by her stories. Speculative fiction is fun, magical, and imaginative but great speculative fiction is about real people defining themselves through extraordinary situations. Christine writes primarily about people and relationships, and it is in this way that she strives to make science fiction and fantasy meaningful for everyone.

At the age of 16, Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt's Disease, a condition that effects the retina and causes a loss of central vision. She is now legally blind, but has not let this slow her down or get in the way of her dreams.

In addition to writing, Christine teaches workshops on writing at Savvy Authors. She also does some freelance editing work.

Christine currently lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who has been her biggest fan and the key to her success. They have two beautiful children.

Praise for the Cassie Scot Series

From Publisher's Weekly:

"Amsden continues the story of the only mundane member of a supernaturally-gifted family in this middling sequel to Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective. Cassie, stubborn and proud, is bravely trying to live on her own after her family disowns her. Struggling to make ends meet, she accepts a case involving a pair of magical girls who disappeared from summer camp. With the aid of the handsome Evan Blackwood, to whom Cassie is attracted despite her family's disapproval and her own better judgment, she follows the trail of the missing girls. What she finds is a dark side of the magical world, and the hidden depths of her family's past force her to reconsider long-held assumptions. The growing complexity of Cassie's world makes this an entertaining installment, focusing as much on the will-they, won't-they romantic chemistry between Cassie and Evan as on the primary mystery. An inconclusive ending is clearly intended to feed into the next volume."

Kim Falconer, bestselling author of The Spell of Rosette, Quantum Enchantment Series, had this to say:

"When sorcerers call the shots, what's a girl without powers to do? Get ready for a ripper of a murder mystery full of romance and intrigue, where magic potions bubble, passions spark and vampires are definitely not your friend. Cassie Scot: ParaNormal Detective grabs you by the heart and won't let go until the very last page. Well written, immersive and unputdownable. This is urban fantasy at its best. More please!"

Giveaway:

*The giveaway begins on April 15, 2014 at midnight and ends on July 16, 2014 at midnight.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Alabaster Nights Review Tour By Elle J Rossi @ElleJRossi @DarkWorldBooks

Alabaster Nights
(A Josie Hawk Companion Novella)

A Vampire with a soul. A Huntress with a knife. In Nashville, Blood equals Power. Will one taste of Josie Hawk cost Keller everything?

Interested in reading how the tale of Josie and Keller began? Then check Crimson Beat, a novella within the A Celtic Tapestry anthology!

My Review:

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Keller is a vampire that is hooked on blood like a human is hooked on alcohol or food. He has spent time in a rehab facility trying to overcome his addiction. But so far no one has been able to help him curve his appetite. Keller tries so hard to keep his addiction under control and not attack humans and kill them. He tries to only take what he needs to survive. He will try to drink blood from a glass or cup in a bar but it is not the same as drinking from a human. To Keller it just doesn't taste the same beside all that he doesn't get the same desired affect or feeling as he does when drinking from a human.

Keller's sister contacts him telepathy and tells him to come to this bar. She wants him to see the bar and check it out because Sage and her best friend Josie is going to become partners when they buy the bar. Keller can't believe that she is going to buy the bar and settled down in one place and actually stay there for a while. On his way to visit his sister Keller has an encounter with this woman who turns out to be Sage's best friend Josie only Keller has no knowledge of this at the time. When Keller meets Josie he knows that she is his mate and can't wait to meet her again.

When Keller arrives at the bar that his sister Sage is going to buy he sees his mate there. Keller knows she is his mate but she tells him that she belongs to no one. She is the boss of her own self and can take care of herself. Josie is a huntress and can fight just as well as Keller but he has other plans. His plan is to take care of her and make her his mate. He knows she can take care of herself but he fall real hard for her. Now he just has to convince her of this. And believe me he is a man with a plan.

I love reading about vampires and Alabaster Nights did not disappoint me in the least I loved it. I loved all the action it had with Keller and Josie fighting with their enemies. One minute Keller is trying to convince Josie that she is his mate and the next minute they are fighting with their enemies. If you like reading about vampires with a little action, love and some kick ass fighting then Alabaster Nights is the book for you.

About The Author:

Elle J Rossi grew up in rural Indiana surrounded by great people, a huge family and more animals than she could count. But the sites and sounds of the world beckoned, so she left her small town to escape into a creative world full of music. As a full time singer she was able to lose herself in a thousand different songs in a hundred different places. After meeting the love of her life and settling down, she yearned to find a new and fulfilling creative outlet. Overly fond of the happily ever after, she wondered what it would be like to have her own characters lead her down dark and twisted paths. The very first word on the very first page sealed her fate. She'd found a new love. She'd found her escape. Now along with weaving haunting tales about the journey to love, she's creating cover art for authors around the world and loving every second of it. For fun, she cranks country music to take her back to her roots, and sings karaoke anytime she gets a chance. Her husband, two children, and a cat that rules the roost keep her company along the way and guarantee she doesn't get lost in the enchanted forest. She wouldn't have it any other way.

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Review: Midnight: Century of the Vampires By Ami Blackwelder @amiblackwelder @RoxanneRhoads #Giveaway

Midnight:
Century of the Vampires
Book One
Ami Blackwelder

Genre: NA Paranormal Thriller

Publisher: Eloquent Enraptures Publishing

ASIN: B009Y5C69K

Number of pages: 43 on kindle
Word Count: 15,000

Cover Artist: Ami Blackwelder
Graphic Artist: Angel Cusm

Book Description:

The world is no longer the way we remember. Few are even still alive to recall the days when midnight didn't mean cowered away and hidden. Out of sight became our only way to survive since the Century Vampires. If you want to live, trust no one.

By 2125 the world had been overthrown by monsters dubbed Century Vampires. Some kind of mutation in the human genome gave rise to the first ones, or so the scientists suspected. Vamps spent the first one hundred years of their existence growing in number-some born, some turned-all deadly. They wreaked havoc for the past eighty-three years.

Vampires ruled the Earth now...

Century Vampires have only one rule: There are no rules.

Excerpt:

Chapter One:

Move your ass Mark!" Aura shouted from the mouth of the cave, where the rocks ended and the forest began-well, what was left of the forest after the constant brush-fires of a world gone awry.

"Just one more bomb. Those bastards are going to have a real awakening." Mark slammed his last homemade explosive against the cave wall. Searching the walls with his vigilant eyes one last time, he took note of the wrinkled skin hanging from the ceiling.

Like bats, the human vampires hung with feet clinging to the crevices. Their decrepit arms criss-crossed their chests, rejuvenating themselves. Well, that was what the humans called it, but how did they stick to the cave ceilings? Some humans speculated that vampire blood secreted some kind of sap through the pores of their skin. Others figured it was just pure evil that held them there.

"Let's go!" Aura shouted. Mark had a way of pushing himself to the edge. Aura wanted to make sure he didn't fall over it.

"One minute!" Mark yelled, staring at the cave walls. Aura watched his dark copper-brown, wavy hair move like the tide over his face as he just stood there.

Standing on the border between the outside world and the dark cavern, Mark wanted nothing more than to watch those blood-thirsty beasts burst all over the damp walls. Here inside this cave before midnight they looked like the monsters they were, the creatures that sucked the life from his sister Laura, the vamps that decapitated his parents. Vampires didn't appear beautiful until they turned and grew fangs at midnight. Then the deathly hallow their human bodies had become grew into something almost celestial and hypnotic-like, with unparalleled strength surging through their veins.

"We are running out of time! The vamps will be hunting soon!" Aura urged.

But Mark stood frozen, green eyes fixed on the bloodsuckers, his memory spinning. Aura dug her fingers and nails into his shoulders and spun him around to face her. "We're going now!" Aura's face filled with a hot red color, and after she shook him once he returned to her.

"I'm here, I'm going." He lunged away from the cave and grabbed Aura's palm in his. Racing across the fire beaten terrain, they had never moved faster. Wind hit their faces in a rush and their feet sunk into the soggy mud with each step forward.

Pop, Pop, Pop…Within seconds the cave imploded and went ablaze.

Bits of vamp flesh burned as it spattered across the barren forest. An arm limb nearly hit Mark in the head. The entire mission took nearly an hour to complete, the explosion just under a minute. The cave became rubble and debris shot everywhere.

"Won't be seeing those bloodsuckers again." Mark sounded proud, beads of sweat dripping down his cheeks.

"We still have to make it back to O-Tech-1." O-Tech-1 was code name for the basement of the abandoned church in Manhattan.

Aura tightened her grip on Mark's hand. "And you know a few of those mature vamps will be out hunting. Six to midnight is still not safe." Aura emphasized that point often. Mark may not mind missions from dusk to dark. Most vamps still needed rejuvenation then, but Aura didn't trust the dark. Vamp or no, the dark could be dangerous.

Besides she smelled the scent of something...someone following them for miles now. Someone familiar.

My Review:

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Aura met Mark two years ago and they have been together ever since. Mark and Aura live in a world where the vampires have taken over the world. They started with the people at the top of the line. Like the people who were in charge of the country and whose job it was too serve and protect the humans. They destroyed them for the most part but they would take thousands upon thousands and put them on like little farms and treat them and use them like humans use and treat animals. You know like cows, chickens, pigs ect.... Humans are their food their way of surviving and now the vamps have taken over the world. There are a few like Aura and Mark who have survived and fight the vamps almost every day just to stay alive or not to become one of their animals locked up so that the vamps can feed from them.

Mark is the only human that she trust and she is the only human that he trusts as well. Aura has other friends she has met since the vamps have taken over whom she can trust as well. Aura and Mark go visit these friends every few months or so to get supplies from them that they can't get anywhere else. These people care a lot for Aura and except Mark to keep her safe from the vamps.

I loved reading Midnight: Century of the Vampires. I loved the world that the author has created for the vamps and the fact that they are so very different than most vampires that you normally read about. I can't wait to read more about Aura, Mark, Aura's friends that live in the underground and all of the vamps too. Midnight: Century of the Vampires may be a short read but it has so much depth in it that you would think it was a full length novel. I only had one problem with it and that was because it was short.

About the Author:

Ami Blackwelder is a Paranormal and SciFi author. Her stories range from Tween & YA to Adult. Growing up in Florida, she graduated UCF and in 1997 received her BA in English and additional teaching credentials. Then she packed her bags and travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand in her thirties.

Having won the Best Fiction Award from the University of Central Florida (Yes, The Blair Witch Project University), her short fiction From Joy We Come, Unto Joy We Return was published in the on campus literary magazine: Cypress Dome and remains to this day in University libraries around the USA. Later, she achieved the semi-finals in a Laurel Hemingway contest and published a few poems in the Thailand's Expat magazine, and an article in the Thailand's People newspaper. Additionally, she has published poetry in the Korea's AIM magazine, the American Poetic Monthly magazine and Twisted Dreams Magazine.

Giveaway:

Midnight ebook giveaway and bookmark.

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