Reading Wrap-up For January at Emeraldfire's Bookmark

Hello everyone out there and I hope that you all had a terrific reading month for yourselves. I am known as Emeraldfire around the Internet and this is my new personal reading blog.

Anyway, I started out January with about two hundred unread books lying around the house and ended the month with...umm...uncountable amounts of books unread. All of the books that I acquired this month came from Barnes and Noble, Bookmooch, authors and Amazon

Let me try to break down the influx for you:

Changes to the TBR pile

Read from my TBR pile (Yes! I am a reading machine :))
- Accidentally in Love With...A God? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
- The Snow Owl by Jon Hartling
- TaleSpins by Michael Mullin
- The Tempest Murders by P. M. Terrell
- He's Faster: A Short Story by Carlyle Clark 
- The Black Song Inside by Carlyle Clark

Added to my TBR pile (oh well, you win some and you lose some! :))
- Ashenden: A Novel by Elizabeth Wilhide
- Daughter of the God-King by Anne Cleeland
- Run With the Wolves: The Pack by T. C. Tombs

- Saving Ben by Ashley H. Farley

- The Card Counter by James Kipling

- The Price of Innocence by Bryan Devore
- The Rowan Tree by Robert W. Fuller
- Without by Glenis Stott
- Across Eternity by Aris Whittier
- Highland Shift by Laura Harner
- Summer of my Secret Angel by Anna Katmore
- The Statue of Ku: Moa Series by Tricia Stewart Shiu
- Killer Career by Morgan Mandel

- Good, Clean Murder: A Plain Jane Mystery by Traci Tyne Hilton

- Porcelain Keys by Sarah Beard

- Heart of Stone by Christine Warren
- Death by Drowning 2 by Abigail Keam
- An American Outlaw by John Stonehouse
- Enemy in the Room by Parker Hudson
- Heiress of Lies: Bloodtruth by Cege Smith
- Gnome Wars: A Short Tale by Barbra Annino
- The Last King by A. Yasmina Collins
- Branded For Murder by Dick Waters
- Nefarious Doings: A Nell Forrest Mystery by Ilsa Evans
- Hide and Seek by P. S. Brown
- Wanderer's Escape by Simon Goodson 
- Marblestone Mansion by Marti Talbott
- Don't Dare a Dame by M. Ruth Myers
- Something About Her by Jeannie Ruesch
- Parallel by Claudia Lefeve
- Two Pair by Jessica Jackson, Mackenzie Jackson, Meredith Jackson and Stephanie Jackson
- Dangerous by Alycia Linwood
- Accidental Deception by Tina Martin
- Shadow-Love Stalkers by Claudy Conn
- The MacKinnon's Bride by Tanya Anne Crosby
- Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
- Before Bethlehem by James J. Flerlage
- Gaspar And The Fantastical Hats by David A. Lindsay
- Fire and Ice by Patty Jansen
- The Dark Citadel by Michael Wallace
- Still Life With Murder by P. B. Ryan
- Shelf Ice by Aaron Stander
- Behind the Bedroom Wall by Laura E. Williams
- Kissing in the Dark by Wendy Lindstrom
- Sacred Fear by Lucy-Anne Smith
- The Demon Calumnius by Samantha Johns
- The Legender by Jason Link
- In Your Dreams by Amy Martin
- The Victim by Jonas Saul
- The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson
- A Bandit's Betrayed Heart by Michelle McLean
- Fog City Strangler by Greg Messel
- The Officer and the Bostoner by Rose Gordon
- Alpha Mine by Brenda Sparks
- Patriot Ghosts by Bruce Gatenby 
- She Pulls Off the Interstate by Eugene Ahn
- On the Street Where You Die by Al Stevens
- The Wanderess by Roman Payne
- Tony Partly Cloudy by Nick Rollins
- Trying the Knot by Todd Erickson
- Deceptive Innocence Part I by Kyra Davis
- Deceptive Innocence Part II by Kyra Davis
- The Weight of Blood: A Novel by Laura McHugh
- The Collector of Dying Breaths: A Novel of Suspense by M. J. Rose
- Hallowed by Bryant Delafosse
- American Ghoul by Walt Morton
- A Watermelon Summer by Anna Hess
- Mine to Tarnish by Janeal Falor
- Malicious by James Raven
- Magic All Around by Marcy L. Peska
- The Gondola Maker by Laura Morelli
- Raytara: Judgement of the Stars by Elke Schuster
- Revelations: The Merlin Chronicles by Daniel Diehl
- The Choosing by Jeremy Laszlo
- Anstice by Marjean Ragsdale
- Graveyard Shift by Angela Roquet
- Jefferson's Road: The Spirit of Resistance by Michael J. Scott
- Soul Stealer by Sam Richardson
- Eye of Darkness by Michael J. Scott
- Finding Love - The Outsider Series: Volume 2 by Lorhainne Eckhart
- Angels With Attitudes Omnibus: Books 1-3 by Mimi Barbour
- Dangerous Loves Romantic Suspense Collection by Dorothy McFalls
- Red Rock's Rebel: Bridge Novella by Taylor Lee
- Lady Justice and the Assassin by Robert Thornhill
- Iron Bloom by Billy Wong
- Chasing Sam by Krystal Shannan
- Blue Violet by Abigail Owen
- Being Prince Charming by D. L. Jackson
- Behind the Facade: Volumes One and Two by Victoria and Rebecca Heap
- The Billionaire Wins the Game by Melody Anne
- Captured Minds by R. A. Odum
- Long Holler Road: A Dark Southern Thriller by David Lee Malone
- Just Add Salt by Jinx Schwartz
- Kalorama Shakedown by Robert Bruce Stewart
- The Midnight Side by Natasha Mostert
- Diviner's Prophecy by Nicolette Andrews
- Windwalker by Natasha Mostert
- His Island Bride by Shadonna Richards
- Sea Scoundrel by Annette Blair
- The Destiny Quest Chronicles by Varun Vashist
- Invisible by Cecily Anne Paterson
- I am Phoenix by S. S. Phoenix
- Hope's Decree by Angela McPherson
- The Lotus Cross by Ray Anderson
- The Tyrant's Daughter by J. C. Carleson
- A Charming Crime by Tonya Kappes
- The Loyal Servant: A Very British Political Thriller by Eva Hudson

- A Detective Shakespeare Mysteries Collection (Books 1-3) by J. Robert Kennedy

- Georgiana Darcy's Diary: Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice Continued by Anna Elliott

- The First by Jason Mott 

- Nick the Saint by Anthony Szpak

- Dragon Defender by J. A. Blackburn

- Sweet Blood of Mine by John Corwin

- Rae of Hope by W. J. May

- In the Black Room: A Paranormal Romance by Luke Smitherd

- Fairylicious by Tiffany Nicole Smith

- The Eye of Erasmus by Teresa Geering

- Colorworld by Rachel E. Kelly

- Dogs of Orninica by Daniel Unedo

- The Hunter, the Bear and the Seventh Sister by B. I. Woolet

- Time For Love by Emma Kaye
- Scandal: The Death of a Legacy by Johnny Ray
- Murder in the South of France by Susan Kiernan-Lewis
- Death Checks Inn by Sara Robbins
- BlackDown by D. M. Mitchell
- Before the Legend by J. U. Scribe
- Cold Company by A. J. Aalto
- It's the Stars Will be Our Lamps by Alan Walsh
- Rainy Nights: Three Novels by J. R. Rain
- Legendary Lover by Renee Roszel
- Helga: Out of the Hedgelands by Rick Johnson
- Boundless by Brad Cotton
- Where's Lolly? by Stephen Henning
- Rival by Lacy Yager
- War of the Gods by Justine E. Borrego, Marco Antonio Borrego and Juan David Borrego
- Seduction of the Scepter by Rose E. Sabin
- Mango Bay by Bill Myers
- The Cut-Out by Jon King
- Bad Call: A Psychological Thriller by James Harper
- A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin
- Secret of the Thorns: A Political Thriller by Tom Haase
- Burnt Offerings by Michael Lister
- The Air Singer by K. Huber
- Gifted by Jim Ellis
- Weaver by John Abramowitz
- Beyond the Eyes by Rebekkah Ford
- Warriors: Every Man Matters by Michael Obermire and Gary Zelesky
- Smoke and Mirrors by L. B. Clark
- Breaking Twig by Deborah Epperson
- The Gypsy's Dream by Sara Alexi
- Broken Angel by S. W. Vaughn
- Crazy, VA by Shannon Hill
- Myth: A Wall Street Novel by David A. Mallach

- Thrall by Jennifer Quintenz
- Incubus by Jennifer Quintenz
- The Sixth Sense by Lawrence Gold
- Lingering Echoes by Erica Kiefer
- Blood Feud by Daniel Harris
- Painted Red by Douglas Parks
- The Codex of Vampiric Bloodlines by R. M. Garcia
- Unfinished Business by Richard Levesque
- Shannon's Daughter by Karen Welch
- Shine On by Allison J. Jewell
- Wild Irish Ride: A Southern Steam Novel by Jennifer Saints
- Missing Winter by Chris Folk
- Pale Boundaries by Scott Cleveland
- Death in the Beginning by Gary Williams
- Carrots: A Shelby Nichols Adventure by Colleen Helme
- Dead Radiance by T. G. Ayers
- Give me Reason by Zoey Derrick
- Before the Devil Knows You're Dead by J. L. Murray
- Bitter Fruit: A Taste Of The Antholocaust by Justin Osborne
- Handle With Care by Emily Porterfield
- Our Little Secrets by Merry Farmer
- Born to be Wild by Patti Berg
- Desired to Death by J. M. Maison
- River's Recruit by Charlotte Abel
- Enchantment by Charlotte Abel
- Five by Christie Rich
- 13 on Halloween by Laura A. H. Elliott
- City of the Divine Sun by Holly McCaghren
- Simply, Mine by M. L. Gardner
- Gaia's Secret by Barbara Kloss
- The I. P. O. by Dan Koontz
- One Road to Hell by J. J. Klein
- Fire at Dawn by Lila Ashe
- Through the Wildwood by M. R. Mathias
- Elseerian: The Second Draeken War by Ben Hale
- The Book of Deacon by Joseph Lallo
- Against the Odds by Mara Jacobs
- Black Collar by Daniel Sullivan
- His Leading Lady by Jean Joachim
- Secrets, Spies and Sweet Little Lies by Tara Kingston
- Everblade by G. M. Browning
- Reveal by Brina Courtney
- Always Yours by Somi Ekhasomhi
- Whispers of Murder by Cheryl Bradshaw
- Hook and Peter by Doram Jacoby
- Blue Courage by C. J. Davis
- Gateway to Nifleheim by Glenn G. Thater
- In the Shadow of the Earth by J. P. Borders
- Freedom's Sunset by Elliott Middleton
- Disappearance by Niv Kaplan
- Deep in the Heart by Staci Stallings
- Follow the Heart by Anita Mills
- Fresh Temptation by Reeni Austin
- Space Junque by L. K. Rigel
- Sherdan's Prophecy by Jess Mountfield
- Sleepwalking by Raelke Grimmer
- The Garden Plot by Marty Wingate
- The Dirty Book Murder: A Rare Book Mystery by Thomas Shawver
- The Perfect Wife by Victoria Alexander
- The Parent Trap by Vic Crume
- Demon Witch by Geoffrey Huntington
- Either Side of Midnight by Tori de Clare
- Simpson's Will by Edward A. McCoyd
- Bleeker Hill by Russell Mardell
- Alpha Hybrid: The Becoming by Larissa Ladd
- Untangle my Heart by Maria K. Alexander
- The Dogcatcher by Bruce Luchsinger
- Bone Diamond: Weird Stories by Michael John Grist
- Dark Fate: The Gathering by Matt Howerter
- Drowning Mermaids by Nadia Scrieva
- Invisible Wings by Janell Rhiannon
- Freak of Nature by Katie Lee O'Guinn
- Hunter by Joanne Wadsworth
- Anstractor: Vestalia by Greg Dragon
- Knot in Time by Alan Tucker
- The Eden Project: Humanity's Last Chance by D. P. Fitzsimons
- A Raucous Time by Julia Hughes
- The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor
- Annihilation by K. D. McAdams
- Driftwood by Shauna Bickley
- The Overlap by Lynn Costa
- License to Date by Susan Hatler
- A Cry of Honor by Morgan Rice
- Sophia: Within by Jordana Lizama
- Saving Wishes by G. J. Walker-Smith
- Almost a Bride by Patricia McLinn
- Ashes of Roses by Christine Pope
- Chimera by David Kaine
- O'Henry by T. G. Brown
- Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable
- Nothing is Negotiable by Mark Bentsen
- Buzz Books 2014 by Robin Dellabough
- Gravettian Goddess by B. Alexander Howerton
- Advent of Perpetual Sorrows by A. A. Pencil
- Catered to Death by Marlo Hollinger
- Broken: Nick by Annie Jacoby
- Fighting Fire: The Intern by Emily Stone
- Family Magic by Patti Larsen
- The Crickhowell School For the Muses by Rachel Waxman
- Bloom by A. P. Kensey

Taken off my TBR pile and sent to a new home (Yay! Happy Dance! :))
- Accidentally in Love With...A God? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
- The Snow Owl by Jon Hartling
- TaleSpins by Michael Mullin
- The Tempest Murders by P. M. Terrell
- The Ghost Light by Fritz Leiber
- He's Faster: A Short Story by Carlyle Clark
- The Black Song Inside by Carlyle Clark

Well, there it is...the breakdown! All in all, a very good reading month for me, considering. Here's a further breakdown:

Books Read: 6

Pages Read: 975

Grade Range: A+! to A!

So, there you go! The reading month that was January. I hope that you all had an equally good reading month; if not a little better. :) See you all next month! :)

May you read well and often

Book Blast Blog Tour For Requested Surrender by Riley Murphy From February 28, 2014 to March 28, 2014 - Come Join Us!

Hello Everyone! I am delighted to announce that Riley Murphy will be touring the blogosphere to promote her Erotic Romance novel Requested Surrender. This is Riley's first virtual book blast blog tour with Pump up Your Book! She will be coming to a blog near you from February 28, to March 28, 2014! Come join us for all the fun!

Ms. Murphy is also doing an awesome giveaway - she is giving away a $25 Amazon Giftcard to one lucky winner at the end of her Book Blast Blog Tour. Be sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and I wish you all the very best of good luck in taking part!

Requested Surrender Book Blast Information:

Meet Riley Murphy

Riley Murphy writes sexy, humorous and emotional romance, happy ending guaranteed. An optimist, she believes life is awesome, people are complicated, but in a good way, and we should never stop learning. Riley currently resides in Florida with her gorgeous husband. She has two wonderful kids and one very bossy English Bull terrier she has dubbed ‘The Divine One’. 

When Riley’s not working she enjoys reading, oil painting and getting to the Sunday crossword puzzle before anyone else does, so she can fill-in all the easy answers first. If Riley wasn’t a writer she’d be an international spy with top-level security so she could have a peek at Area 51 and decide for herself if those green guys are for real. Failing that she’d probably go with chicken sexer. 

Riley loves to hear from readers.To learn more about her or her upcoming releases swing by her website and say hello at: www.AuthorRileyMurphy.com or connect with her on twitter @Riley__Murphy where she’s always sharing her deep-dark secrets.

Her latest book is the erotic romance, Requested Surrender.

Visit her website at www.authorrileymurphy.com or her blog at http://www.badboyscanbefun.com/blog/.

Connect and Socialize with Riley!

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

About Requested Surrender:

She knows he’s dangerous for a woman like her.

He knows she’s perfect for a man like him.

From their first meeting, David Hollan is intrigued because Lacy Pembrook is subconsciously hiding someone. Herself. And David wants to know why. He’s patient at first. Willing to give her space, but when she breaks the rules they’ve set between them, he’s ready to hold her accountable. One way or another, he’s going to find the piece of her that’s yet to be uncovered. And when he does? He intends to own it.

Given an ultimatum after she got caught coloring outsides the lines of their “trial” relationship, Lacy decides to fall in with David’s plans. She’ll cancel her trip and spend her vacation time at his house making up for her transgression. No sweat, right? Wrong. What she doesn’t count on when she gets there is him going full-out Dom on her. She quickly learns why they call him the quiet one. He’s dead sexy, watchful and stern at the best of times, and now that he has her all to himself, each of those things are magnified tenfold.

By the time Lacy realizes that he’s completely subjugated her - by way of an emotional striptease - it’s too late. She’s bared her soul to him, so when he requests her surrender she has no choice but to give it to him. Or does she?

Purchase Your Copy From Amazon!

(The Amazon link will be live soon. Meanwhile, visit http://www.badboyscanbefun.com/coming-soon/ to be the first one to hear about its release date!)

Pump Up Your Book and Riley are teaming up to give you a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Terms and Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
• This giveaway begins February 28 and ends March 28.
• Winners will be contacted via email on Monday, March 31.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Requested Surrender Virtual Book Blast Blog Tour Information:

Friday, February 28 - The Writer’s Life
Tuesday, March 4 - Behind Closed Doors
Tuesday, March 4 - Literarily Speaking
Wednesday, March 5 - A Little Bit of Spice
Wednesday, March 5 - Margay Leah Justice
Thursday, March 6 - Babbling Books and More
Thursday, March 6 - Cherry Mischievious
Thursday, March 6 - I Heart Reading
Friday, March 7 - Literary Meanderings
Friday, March 7 - Queen of the Night Reviews
Monday, March 10 - The Phantom Paragrapher
Monday, March 10 - Naturally Kim B
Tuesday, March 11 - Lori’s Reading Corner
Wednesday, March 12 - Authors and Readers Book Corner
Thursday, March 13 - Sarah’s Organized Chaos
Friday, March 14 - Jersey Girl Sizzling Reviews
Monday, March 17 - Butterfly-O-Meter
Monday, March 17 - I’m Shelf-ish
Tuesday, March 18 - We’re Jumpin’ Books
Wednesday, March 19 - Mary’s Cup of Tea
Wednesday, March 19 - Urban Girl Reader
Wednesday, March 19 - Cheryl’s Book Nook
Wednesday, March 19 - Lori’s Reading Corner
Thursday, March 20 - Deal Sharing Aunt
Friday, March 21 - Escape by Fiction
Monday, March 24 - As the Page Turns
Tuesday, March 25 - Emeraldfire’s Bookmark
Wednesday, March 26 - Crystal’s Many Reviewers
Thursday, March 27 - Reviews by Molly
Friday, March 28 - The Romance Evangelist
Friday, March 28 - My Book Addiction and More

May you read well and often

T. C. Tombs, Author of the Run With the Wolves Series, Talks About the Importance of the Story and Setting in the Trilogy

Meet T. C. Tombs

T. C. Tombs earned degrees from Trent University and Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada. Like many Canadians, he loves hockey and golf, and he has a passion for medieval history, folk lore, literature, film, and music. Terry and his wife, Sandra, live in the Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, where they have raised five daughters.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

It is the fifteenth century, and three kingdoms are caught up in the dire conflicts of their time. As the possibility of a peaceful resolution provides hope that a decade-long war will finally end, no one realizes that dark forces are waiting to invoke chaos as a full moon rises. On a farm nestled beneath the Euralene Mountains along the western border of Medinia, young Willie works for the Smythes as a serf.

One moonlit evening when the Smythes are gone to a neighbouring village, Willie hears the terrified cries of animals in the pastures. When he goes to investigate, he discovers that this wolf pack attack is like no other. Badly injured during the raid, he survives—but now he is afflicted by the full-moon madness that will soon transform him into one of the wolf creatures he dreads. With his life seemingly warped forever, Willie must face the prospect of a lifelong descent into horror.

In a time of witchcraft, superstitious folk lore, and fear-some creatures roaming the night, Willie struggles with an uncertain destiny and must seek help from the one man he holds most responsible for the dark fate that awaits him during the next full moon cycle.

Run With the Wolves Series:
Volume 1: The Pack
Volume 2: The Oracle
Volume 3: The Beast

Coming to IUniverse on 8 November 2011!

I would like to welcome T. C. Tombs, author of the Run With the Wolves Series to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. Mr. Tombs was kind enough to write a guest post for me and here it is below in his own words:

'Story and Setting'
by T. C. Tombs

In writing the Run with the Wolves saga I initially had a concept for a story about a number of different people who suffered from afflictions that were not of their choosing - and how differently those various people chose to deal with what fate had cruelly bestowed upon them. I had in mind a 'Vampire-like' character; a 'Pack' of both wolves and wolf-like humans who suffered from a lunar-sickness; and finally, a group of people who were rejected by society due to physical abnormalities or forced into hiding due to religious persecution.

To make these characters come to life, it quickly became apparent to me that the setting was going to be every bit as important as the story itself.

I did a lot of research - and a lot of soul searching too, I suppose. The more I learned, the more I was drawn to the life and times of the 15th century in Medieval Europe, and in particular, to the year 1461. This was century of great discovery and learning. It was also a time of terrible repression and great cruelty.

The 15th century saw the birth of great minds like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Copernicus. The famous explorers Bartolomeu Dias, Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Vasco da Gamo opened up the world to new trade routes and lands not previously known to Europe. It was a century that saw the Johannes Gutenberg printed bible and the founding of universities in places such as Barcelona.

The 15th century saw the birth of Joan of Arc in 1412, saw her lead the French forces against the English in 1428, and watched as she was burned at the stake in 1431. It saw the execution of the Czech religious reformer Jan Hus. It was the time of the War of the Roses, the Plagues that swept across Europe, the on-going conflict between the three pillars of society - the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. It was a century that saw the expulsion of Jews from Portugal and Spain - and of course, the 'Inquisition' under Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand.

And, it was the century that saw the advent of firearms and the change that development brought to warfare. If all that wasn't enough, it was the time of Vlad the Impaler - the man said to have been the inspiration for Bram Stoker's story Dracula. What better setting for my fantasy epic to take place in than this time period!

I hope you will check out my trilogy Run with the Wolves. Pick up a copy of Volume One The Pack and see for yourself how history and fiction can be mixed to deliver a spell-binding tale that will keep you riveted and entertained.

Please visit my website www.tctombs.com for retail sites, full reviews, storyboards, and special events.

All the best

T c Tombs

Praise for Run With the Wolves:

"Beware of the full moon. This one is for all the werewolf lovers!" - Top Book Reviewers

"A well-written and addictive first novel" - Blue Ink Review

"A well-developed, tightly plotted fantasy; readers will want installments two and three." - Kirkus Reviews

May you read well and often

Carlyle Clark - The Black Song Inside

6. The Black Song Inside by Carlyle Clark (2013)
The Atticus and Rosemary Mysteries Book 1
Length: 244 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 18 January 2014
Finished: 23 January 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Dorothy at Pump up Your Book for sending me a copy of this book to read.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 22 December 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Carlyle Clark is a new author for me.

Recently engaged private investigators, Atticus Wynn and Rosemary Sanchez, have both seen and experienced the dark and violent side of life. Nothing, though, has prepared them for the explosive murder case that they are currently working on. This is an investigation that threatens to tear their relationship apart as they struggle to solve a case that could either send them to prison or to the morgue.

Atticus' manipulative ex-girlfriend Claire bursts back into their lives harboring a secret about Rosemary's family that she exploits in order to force the couple to investigate the execution-style slaying of her lover. Taking the case thrusts Rosemary and Atticus headlong into the shadowy world of human trafficking and drug smuggling, while rendering them pawns in Tijuana cartel captain Armando Villanueva's bloody bid to take over the criminal underworld.

The Black Song Inside is a vivid crime thriller rife with murder and madness, threaded with moments of dark gallows humor and the heroism of two flawed and compelling protagonists who, if they can save themselves, may finally learn the nature of redemption and forgiveness.

I must say that while I enjoyed reading this book, it is definitely not for the faint of heart. The plot deals with some seriously dark issues, in a gritty and realistic way. For me, some of the profanity and racial slurs used made reading the story rather difficult, although it certainly enhanced the reality of the characters. I appreciated the thread of gallows humor that was present throughout the story and give this book an A! I will certainly be on the look out for more from this author to read in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

May you read well and often

The Black Song Inside's Rosemary Sanchez Laments Her Brother's Choices in Life

Meet Carlyle Clark

Carlyle Clark was raised in Poway, a city just north of San Diego, but is now a proud Chicagolander working in the field of Corporate Security and writing crime and fantasy fiction. He has flailed ineffectually at performing the writer’s requisite myriad of random jobs: pizza deliverer, curb address painter, sweatshop laborer, day laborer, night laborer, security guard, campus police, Gallup pollster, medical courier, vehicle procurer, and signature-for-petitions-getter.

He is a married man with two cats and a dog. He is also a martial arts enthusiast and a CrossFit endurer who enjoys fishing, sports, movies, TV series with continuing storylines, and of course, reading. Most inconsequentially, he holds the unrecognized distinction of being one of the few people in the world who have been paid to watch concrete dry in the dark. Tragically, that is a true statement.

His latest book is the mystery thriller, The Black Song Inside.

Visit his website at http://carlyleclark.wordpress.com.

Connect and Socialize with Carlyle!

Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads:  

Atticus Wynn and Rosemary Sanchez, newly engaged private investigators, have seen the dark and violent side of life, but nothing has prepared them for an explosive murder investigation that threatens to tear their relationship apart. They struggle to solve a case that as a best result could leave them in prison or dead.

Atticus's manipulative ex-girlfriend bursts back into their lives wielding a secret about Rosemary's family. She exploits the fact to force the couple into investigating the execution-style slaying of her lover. The case thrusts Atticus and Rosemary headlong into the world of human trafficking and drug smuggling, while rendering them pawns in Tijuana Cartel captain Armando Villanueva's bloody bid to take over the Cartel. 

The Black Song Inside is a vivid crime thriller rife with murder and madness, melded with gallows humor and the heroism of two flawed and compelling protagonists. If they can save themselves, they may learn the nature of redemption and the ability to forgive.

Coming to Amazon 10 September 2013 and Barnes and Noble 28 September 2013!

I would like to welcome Carlyle Clark, author of The Black Song Inside to Emeraldfire's Bookmark. Mr. Spencer was kind enough to allow one of his characters - Rosemary Sanchez - to write a guest post for me and here it is below in 'her' own words:

'Rosemary's Lament'

by Carlyle Clark

My brother Johnny doesn’t need me anymore. Gang life offers easy answers, the thrill of deadly consequences kept at bay, doing unto others before they do unto him, low deals, high stakes, and a pack of vicious brothers at his back. All of them hate the man I love, Atticus Wynn, my fiance, my partner, my life.

Johnny’s eyes were always angry, but they were sad and sweet too. Now they gleam like a hungry wolf’s. Once I protected him, but he’s closed ranks and I’m outside. I remember when he put his arms around me and buried his grimy, tear-stained his face in my neck. Those arms are now thick with muscles that writhe beneath tattooed sleeves. The hands I used to hold have grown callused by endless pull-ups, cleans, and dead lifts.

Once he gripped a stuffed blue bunny, a memento from the time before he was orphaned. He kept on clutching the tattered thing when he was swept to America by my well-meaning parents. They adopted him, but they never made feel he belonged. I was the one with potential. I drew their praise. He drew their disappointment. Now those hands that once held a bunny can become in a moment brutal fists; they wield knives, guns.

Johnny used to collect baseball cards and model cars. He’d show me when I made time for him, rarely, nowhere near often enough. Now he collects only joyless things - promotions offered from higher ups, all of them murdering, no-conscience thugs, stacks of bills, and a seemingly limitless supply of needles and dope. Johnny’s teeth are as white and sharp as a predator’s, but I remember but I remember when he lost one and was too proud to tell Mama and Papa. I slipped a quarter under his pillow and spied on him when he woke to find it. I giggled behind my hand. He lit the room with a gap-toothed grin.

What do I feel when I look at him now?

Helpless.

How can I love him so much when he hates my man to the point of murder?

By remembering.

How can I save him?

I can’t.

May you read well and often

Carlyle Clark - He's Faster: A Short Story

5. He's Faster: A Short Story by Carlyle Clark (2013)
The Atticus and Rosemary Mystery Thriller Series Book 0.5
Length: 26 pages
Genre: Short Story
Started/Finished: 19 January 2014
Where did it come from? From Amazon
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 18 January 2014
Why do I have it? This ebook was a free download from Amazon as I'm currently reading The Black Song Inside. I also like contemporary mysteries and Carlyle Clark is a new author for me.

Rosemary Sanchez just wants to spend some time alone in her aunt's remote cabin in the woods. She has some very important decisions to make, and the silence of the surrounding forest is just what she needs to think more clearly. However, someone else has something entirely different planned for her evening...and it will take all of Rosemary's courage and cunning just to see the dawn.

I'm currently reading The Black Song Inside by Carlyle Clark, and this story just happened to catch my eye as I browsed the Internet. I enjoyed reading this story very much. There was a thread of dark humor - even in the midst of such suspense - that I totally appreciated. I found the characters' various choices and actions to be absolutely believable, and realistic for the situation.

I give He's Faster by Carlyle Clark an A! It's not necessary to read this story to understand The Black Song Inside, but I'm certainly glad that I did.

A! - (90-95%)
 
May you read well and often

P. M. Terrell - The Tempest Murders

4. The Tempest Murders by P. M. Terrell (2013)
The Ryan O'Clery Mystery Series Book 1
Length: 243 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 8 January 2014
Finished: 17 January 2014
Where did it come from? Many thanks to Tracee at Pump up Your Book and P. M. Terrell for sending me a copy of this book to read from Smashwords.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 21 October 2013
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries that have slight paranormal overtones to them and P. M. Terrell is a new author for me.

In Lumberton, North Carolina, Detective Ryan O'Clery is working a series of homicides when he comes into possession of a journal kept by his great-uncle, five generations earlier. In his writings, Constable Rian Kelly details an eerily similar set of murders that he is investigating in Dublin, Ireland, during 1839. The number of victims steadily increases - until the night of January 6, 1839, when the 'Night of the Big Wind' swept the Atlantic Ocean across Ireland - completely devastating the country.

As Hurricane Irene barrels towards the North Carolina coastline, Ryan O'Clery discovers that even the killer's description that Rian Kelly mentions, matches exactly Ryan's prime suspect for the homicides in North Carolina. And as he falls in love with television reporter Cathleen Reilly, he wonders if she is, in fact, the reincarnation of Caitlyn O'Conor - Rian Kelly's fiancee, and the suspected final victim of the killer - lost as the storm raged across Ireland.

Ryan is in a desperate race against time. For, if reincarnation is possible, then Ryan suspects that he may just be the reincarnation of Rian Kelly. Now, he must rescue Cathleen before the killer finds her. Or risk losing her forever, as history appears destined to repeat itself.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. As I've said before, I do like stories that have paranormal overtones to them, and mysteries of any kind woven throughout storylines certainly intrigue me. I also like reading stories that are in any way connected to Ireland. I was originally born in Belfast, although until I was about four years old, my family and I lived in Dublin. Anyway, I give The Tempest Murders by P. M. Terrell a definite A+! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I just wanted to mention something that happened that surprised me: I had just finished reading this book, and was telling my mom about it. I was explaining how part of the story took place during the 'Night of the Big Wind', when I noticed that my mom was looking at me sort of curiously. I stopped speaking, and she picked up a magazine off a stack of Irish magazines that had just arrived in the mail the day before. The magazine was an issue commemorating 175 years since the 'Night of the Big Wind'!

A+! - (96-100%)          

May you read well and often