Forever Can Be Guest Blog with Madison Daniel

“Forever can be, something to bleed for...” - Ashes Divide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG8wsO4nUac

Everyone has a muse. Some deny it. Some try to change it. Some don’t even realize they have one. AND...some are haunted by it. I am one of those people.

My name is Madison Daniel and I am on a constant quest to find and romance my “muse.” What’s a muse, some may ask. I think it is different for everyone. For some it’s the struggle for wealth. Others, the fulfillment of family. Many, search for the ultimate love. And some, search for an escape. For me? Well, my muse is...music.

I am a new writer who has used music in every possible shape and form. I’ve played it...I have written it. I have learned from it. I have been seduced by it. These days, I chase it. Romance it even. Music is present while I write. Music is present while you read my words. Everything I write has a song or lyric to go along with it. To color my words in sound. To fill your head with images only you as my reader can see. That is my muse. That is my addiction. When you read one of my stories, it is now...your muse.

Music is eternal. The one true, great equalizer. Nothing is as true as the instant a song hits you. Love it or hate it...the reaction is there. It’s built in our design. A song can take you back to a moment in time. Your first dance. Your first kiss. Your first broken heart.

We all have a music inside of us. It carries us through our hectic lives. Many people ignore it though. Some lose themselves in it and get lost in a fantasy world. A balance of the two is the norm for most individuals.

I’m writing this post today to express my opinion that music is forever. Music is life. Music is something worth believing in. Music is my words, my soul...my muse.

Ember

By Madison Daniel

~Book One in the Ember Series~

Love never dies...but it can kill.

Ember is the story of Max Valentine, a teenager with secret abilities and many inner demons. His life revolves around music and his love for it. When his father dies he seeks answers with his last living relative, his fathers brother Frank. Frank lives on the island of Maui and eagerly takes Max in as his own. Max soon learns that healing his past will be more difficult then he could have ever believed. Two major complications will tempt and torment him as he tries to make sense of his abilities.

The first temptation comes in the form of a mysterious island girl. Asia Lyn Michaels is rich, spoiled, angry and beautiful. Her path crosses with Max on the beach one afternoon, forever changing both of their lives. Max saves her life and she discovers his secret. From that moment on they are connected, no matter how much they fight it.

The second temptation will test Max’s very soul. Samantha Ann Summers is sweet, artistic, smart and confident. She will help Max find his smile again and maybe even heal his past mistakes. She is possibly his soul mate and Max will fight that with every fiber of his being.

Max’s temper and indecision with the girls will send in motion events that will cost him dearly. He will test the limits of his powers and the new relationship with his protective uncle. He will gain a powerful love and lose another. Blood will be on his hands, forcing him to run away from what he wants the most...a new start.

About the Author:

Music is LIFE and the written word is our SOUL. Music and writing have been my true ambition since I was a child. I have used music in every form possible; writing it, performing it, healing with it, etc. I call it my "life's soundtrack." I have always written in some form, from comic books to screenplays to short stories and now the new series "Ember." I have spent my writing life inspired by all the music of the universe, 80's movies and eye candy. When not writing I enjoy dreaming out loud, challenging the real world and inspiring the ones I love. I have found a true passion for my stories and characters and am eager to share them with the world. See you on the next book tour...M.D.

Blog:
http://madisondaniel13.blogspot.com/

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/MadisonDaniel13

Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5098993.Madison_Daniel

Tumblr:
http://maddanauthor.tumblr.com/

Facebook Author:
http://www.facebook.com/Madison.Daniel.Author

Facebook Book Series:
http://www.facebook.com/EmberSeries

Amazon Author:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005DMSAIO

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MadisonDaniel

Book trailer http://youtu.be/PWXrW2ub5jM

A Review of Sparks by Laura Bickle

Five Fangs for Sparks by Laura Bickle

The urban fantasy genre has a wonderful new heroine in Anya Kalinczyk.

Laura Bickle's urban fantasy world is complete and unique. In a genre drowning under the weight of vampires, witches and werewolves Bickle's character Anya, a Lantern, is something different and refreshing. And the fire elemental Sparky the salamander- brilliant. The two of them together make a wonderful team that I really enjoy reading about.

The books display the darkness and despair that circle around the real city of Detroit while showcasing a fictional side that we don't see- the world of spirits, elementals and all sorts of darkness feeding off the despair. The backdrop is perfect. And Anya is believable- she's not hip or decked out in leather like some urban fantasy heroines or is she an all powerful creature battling the darkness alone, thought the possibilities of what she is to become are there and she is developing naturally in her role.

In the second book of this series, Sparks, Anya who is a rare psychic medium called a Lantern is trying to keep up with her day job as a Detroit fire investigator. Her newest series of cases raise some crazy questions and point to spontaneous human combustion- but what may be behind it is ghosts.

But how and why?

Turns out a local celebrity/con artist may be behind the ghosts and the spontaneous fires but how?

Anya has to put everything on the line to stop the ghost collector- all while trying to protect Sparky's recently lain eggs.

Sparks is even better than the first book Embers.

The interaction between characters is much more detailed and fleshed out, Anya's character is also fuller and richer and I loved the introduction of a new character Charon the ghostly connection between this world and the underworld. I really hope to see more of him in upcoming books.

I do question Anya's taste in men- first Drake another Lantern but also a firebug not to mention a little off his rocker, now Brian a highly intelligent tech geek who does government work- top secret work. He seems nice enough but something about his ethics and his murky aura make Anya wonder about him. I honestly don't think the two of them mesh- their whole code of ethics and thoughts on ghosts are totally different.

Sparks gives us (and Anya) some new information about Anya's past and her origins which are quite surprising and I am looking forward to seeing where that little twist takes the story in future books.

And here's the part that really got me in the book...they discuss spirits. Do they have feelings, a consciousness and does it matter if they do?

Anya feels the ghosts are still a part of humanity that they matter, Brian and another ghost hunter disagree.

I think that if humans are who we are because of our souls and the souls turn to spirits when we die how can what essentially makes us who we are not be important?

That's something to think about isn't it?

Sparks was a fantastic fiery read that I couldn't put down until it was finished. If each book in this series just keeps getting better I can't wait to read the next installment.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary in the urban fantasy genre- this series is one to try. Not a vampire in sight, no werewolves either but you'll get lots of ghosts and elementals and Lantern or two.

Here is the book description from the back of the book:

WITHOUT A TRACE

Anya Kalinczyk is the rarest type of psychic medium, a Lantern, who holds down a day job as an arson investigator with the Detroit Fire Department—while working 24/7 to exterminate malicious spirits haunting a city plagued by unemployment and despair. Along with her inseparable salamander familiar, Sparky, Anya has seen, and even survived, all manner of fiery hell—but her newest case sparks suspicions of a bizarre phenomenon that no one but her eccentric team of ghost hunters might believe: spontaneous human combustion.

After fire consumes the home of elderly Jasper Bernard, Anya is stunned to discover his remains—or, more precisely, a lack of them; even the fiercest fires leave some trace of their victims—and she is sure this was no naturally occurring blaze. Soon she’s unearthed a connection to a celebrity psychic who preys on Detroit’s poor, promising miracles for money. But Hope Solomon wants more—she’s collecting spirits, and in a frantic race against time, Anya will face down an evil adversary who threatens her fragile relationship with her lover, her beloved Sparky’s freshly hatched newts, and the wandering souls of the entire city.

Free Book Friday Dark Embers By Tessa Adams

This week's Free Book Friday giveaway is Dark Embers by Tessa Adams (and no this isn't part of Michigan month).

I have to admit I am parting with this book practically kicking and screaming because I have not read it yet but my to-read pile is getting so tall it's about to topple over.

So I decided to share. Anyone who knows me, knows that me sharing my books is something special since I am a bonafide book hog. A novel addict that has no desire to be cured.

So feel special my pretties I am sharing my precious books with you. :-)

Dark Embers looks like a sexy read - the guy on the cover looks yummy. I could spend all day counting those abs over and over again.

Sorry I'll try not to drool on the cover. I'm sure no one wants writer drool on their new book.

Here's the book description from Amazon:

A new erotic paranormal series, starring dragon shapeshifters, kicks off with a very sexy debut...

Prince Dylan MacLeod is one of the last pure-blood dragon shape- shifters-and ruler of a dying race, the Dragonstar clan. It falls to him to protect his people and their ancient magic. But he has one important duty: to provide an heir...

Like all dragons, Dylan, who has a dark, rampant sexual appetite, can only procreate with his destined mate-for whom he's searched for the last five hundred years. But his quest is delayed when a disease sweeps through the Dragonstars, and Dylan must venture to the human world to find a cure. He tracks down bio-chemist Phoebe Quillum, never imagining the beautiful scientist would be the mate he's been seeking. But even with the fate of the clan on their shoulders, Phoebe and Dylan are overcome by their sexual desire.

Their passion turns to something truer, but when Phoebe is kidnapped by Dylan's oldest enemy, he must risk everything for his love and his clan...

Sounds fabulous doesn't it?

You want it?

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