Uncomfortable characters in ‘The Thirteenth Sacrifice’ by Debbie Viguie

In “The Thirteenth Sacrifice” Samantha Ryan’s past haunts her-which manifests itself in her dreams complete with screams, blood, and cutting rituals  and now it is affecting her job and those she care about.

Samantha Ryan is a witch. From one of the most powerful coven. However, she is now a Christian and Boston cop by choice and refuses to use her powers for any reason.

Until people start showing up dead on college campuses and everywhere else.

Now, I am not really into Witchy books but after reading the “Crusade Series” by Debbie Viguie and Nancy Holder, I thought I’d try this one out. Also, Viguie’s Kiss Trilogy is good. The Thirteenth Sacrifice was fascinating with added suspense and the unexpected twist in the end. A couple of things made the book a page turner:

Uncomfortable characters.

Samantha Ryan is not a comfortable character, meaning she is like you and I but she is a witch and when she is asked to go undercover;  she  uses her spells and magic to try to capture the killer. She employs old sets of skills, rehash old nightmares to seek clues and do even more diabolical things I will not even mention here.

Eventually she meets Anthony who owns an Occult museum and he is handsome has intense green eyes…and hates witches with a passion. Samantha finds herself in a complex situation given that he hates witches and they begin liking one another. Samantha’s partner, Ed is a comfortable character and is married. However he handles Samantha’s secret will determine if he is a partner worth having.

Power sequences.

Since reading action filled books like Crusade, Halflings, and other novels, I find that scenes with people using powers requires imagination and maybe some science. I was thoroughly interested in how Samantha would get herself out of sticky situations. Is she stronger than the High Priestess? Is there more power she can tap into?

Was there more I wanted to see from The thirteenth Sacrifice?

Yes.

I wanted more than just a sprinkle of romance. It is quite there and a few pages do sizzle with possibilities but at least the book held my interest and I am definitely going to read Book 2: The Last Grave.

*To You: Are you more into action, romance or the perfect balance? Why?

As we wait on ‘Ring of Stone’ here’s some pics of Stone’s birth home…

As ‘Ring of Stone’(Book 2 to Mark of Fortune) is being prepared, I thought I’d share a few pics of the place where Stone of the Ice Rings is from. He was born on the “outskirts of Saturn” which can mean the ice rocks on the ring belt on some other place during that ancient time. Either way its beautiful- enjoy!

Click on the “The Basics of Saturn” to enjoy interesting, mind boggling facts on this gas giant!

*Disclaimer: All images are from NASA.org and some may be artist’s concepts.

Dawn on Saturn

Cassini at Saturn’s Bow Shock

Review of ‘Damned’ by Holder & Viguie, intriguing YA series

“Outside, a wolf howled in deep mourning. A hardened Israeli soldier patrolled. And ruby eyes burned with longing.”(Holder &Viguie, 2011, p.509: Damned)

Such words paint the picture of how deep and emotional the novel Damned(Crusade Series #2) really is. I will take some time and focus on characterization, because I think that is the strongest point in this series. The plot is great and the action scenes are incredible by the way.

But the characters are who touch the heart. From the most cruel to the most caring.

First of all, Damned was very good. Team Salamanca face fights on all sides: Keeping Jenn’s sister Heather together since she is a Cursed One (vampire), Antonio, ah, Antonio continues to fight with Team Salamanca and is devout to God but his bloodlust is no longer quieted; then Solomon, another vampire has new tricks up his sleeves all while Team Salamnca try to dodge new supersoldiers that are a mix of human, vampire, and werewolf. Geesh, there is so much going on and of course, just like in book 1 there are a myriad of flashbacks tripping me up while all I care much for is Jenn and Antonio’s relationship and will they ever get her sister back to normal.

Now, back to the characters. I will list them, along with my thoughts about each, but please be warned. There may be spoilers in here and let me know if I missed someone.

• Jenn Leitner: I like how the authors portray Jenn as “Just Jenn” in book 1. Suddenly she is bumped up to Leader and I like her transition from “Just Jenn” to an alpha in her group. Tough decisions must be made all while trying not to cry over her sister’s transformation and father’s betrayal. I think she will be a tough one just like her grandmother Esther.
• Esther Leitner: Part of the Resistance and has a shady past. Her husband “Che” died in book 1 and she cares so much for granddaughter Jenn and her family, but she remains strong; helping Jenn whenever she can. Even so, she can’t believe Jenn did not tell her that her boyfriend Antonio was a vampire…
• Antonio de la Cruz: Antonio, Antonio…he has to be one of my favorite characters simply because he has faith in God but grows fangs too. He is a tortured soul and maybe that is because like most humans, we have a base nature that laws, morality, and religion keep under control. While Aurora was torturing him, driving a knife near his heart over and over and depriving him of blood- Anotnio finally breaks…does this make him a monster? He thinks so and Jenn is his heart but should he just be himself or who God called him to be?
• Holgar: Poor chap, that werewolf. He is also Team Salamanca. He is strong and loyal and I think he and Skye or at least he and Jenn make a great couple(although Jenn is on an Alpha mode and will completely dominate him). Holgar has abandoned his pack and mate for life in order to fight the vampires. To him, a pack is everything, but Team Salamanca is his new family…
• Skye York: The White Witch. Normally I am not fond of “witchy” characters and books, but Skye, the witch with the rasta braids is the team’s healer. She is not a fighter, because White Witches are not fighters but she teamed up with Team Salamanca after her own boyfriend, Estefan joined sides with the vampires. He continues to get inside her head and with all the spells for healings and protection, her memories, and Estefan on her mind- she is liable to crack.
• Eriko: The Hunter; probably has a small frame according to the description novels, but with a scary past herself wants to kill all the vampires after seeing one kill her own best friend on a webcam. What’s really interesting is that a few years before, Eriko was a part of a singing trio called the Vampire Three. She quit that after her friend’s death. Joined Team Salamanca, drank the elixir required for the one who’ll be the Hunter. This powerful elixir allows a normal human to become superhuman with super speed, super hearing, and super strength just like the vampires. For Eriko though, the elixir is beginning to be too much and it is hurting her physically…
• Jamie: Mr. Hothead. He is probably the one I hate the most. He is Team Salamanca’s normal human, like Jenn but his disdain for vampires and werewolves run very deep. His family was killed by those monsters which means he holds cold hatred for Antonio and Holgar. At one time he did trust Antonio, but in Damned, it changes again. But Jamie has a fury that can squash any monster in his path.
• Noah: New to the team and has a fondness for Jenn Leitner. He is Israeli and handsome and strong. I sure hope there is a love triangle- sounds weird since the books has a some love but is 90% action.
• Aurora Abregon: The most terrible vampire I ever read about next to Sita in Christopher Pike’s books. She wants to see Antonio turned over to the evil side but she was hurt herself.  Long story but now she is on a war path.
• Solomon: Red haired rock star looking vampire who promised everyone on the planet vampires were here for peace and not to start trouble. Whatever. He has Jenn’s father with him and he is just as ruthless as they come.

Bottom line, I love this series because it is showing what can happen in the real world if vampires were loose. Only Antonio is a vampire who has fell in love and prays to God, not all vampires are like him. None of them are. And it is a trying time for a team that starves, get injured, and yes- these authors do not mind killing off characters from previous books. They kept it real.

Thanks Holder and Viguie!

On to Book 3: Vanquished!

The Essence of True Friendship-Missing My Father

 

Last Saturday, I witness the honorable burial of my father. He lost his battle to cancer Tuesday, December 18^th but with a smile on his face. To some it would have looked cryptic, but to someone who knows God for herself, there was a new light in my father’s eyes and his teeth shone white. He had the brightest smile on his face and everyone is still talking about it.

However, I wish not to speak on the death of my father who raised me and my sister by himself and who worked so very hard for his family and others (the funeral was packed with hundreds of lives he’s touched).

But I’d rather discuss what I’ve learned from his passing on to be with the Lord. I already know that life is precious and “too short”, but my father was a true friend to everyone. Even to those whom others may consider different or misfits. You can call on him anytime and he would help. No matter what.

What saddens me is that I had to let a couple of friendships go two years ago because my Spirit was telling me: “A friend in need is a friend indeed” Do they care for you? Do you hang out together? Are ya’ll real friends anyway?” I had to say no to all of the above and it was hard. I asked my Consciousness: “Why should any of that matter? I knew these friends for years. No one did anything to hurt me. I can’t let them go just like that.”

A pretty interesting but true statement. No one did anything to me- yet no one did anything for me either. It is not about getting something from someone, because all I probably needed was a prayer back then or someone just to tell me, “Erica it will be alright.” But everyone had their own lives to get on with. Sometimes, a crisis on the other side is not the flame to burn in the other’s chest. We are instructed to carry one another’s burdens(Galatians 6:2 NIV).

There were others in my corner who I failed to recognize at the time. These folks cared about me and I cared for them. My husband, my father, my sister in law and others that have gone out of their way to make sure me and hubby were okay. This is how my father lived his life: He cared for his fellow people even when he was tired, even when they did not deserve a handout from him- he did it anyway.

So now I reflect on my self. These last seven days, I have wondered-Am I a good friend? I can speak about those who moved on and forgot about me, but what about my relationship to God and people?

This is my prayer: to be like my Heavenly Father whom my earthly father patterned after….

Free eBooks weekend: A look at ‘Dunamis Sanctum’ from ‘The Prayer Monologues’

Church in Vienna at Night from Microsoft Images

Dunamis Sanctum

Daily, I watch the way of people,

Observing and finding flaws so openly hidden.

They do not know what I know.

Some call me shy or fearful

When I avoid their eyes and

Am slow to speak- but they don’t know what I know.

My power comes from abstract dreaming and imaginings

Which doesn’t happen often. Night visions from God

For the appointed time-secrets told in due time.

My smile fazes you,

My praise astounds you, and all the while,

The Holy Spirit slices you from bone to marrow…

***

My Note on why I wrote this poem: I wish I can say I was only inspired by the Bible, which is part truth, but the other half of it involve how I feel about people’s personalities in the church and how we all worship God in our own unique way and should never rely on others’ worship as a model for our own.

For instance, I have been to a church where if you don’t jump around or shout with tears flying around everywhere- then you must not have the Holy Spirit. In other churches, Westernized churches, if you don’t dress in a starched suit or take off your hat when you go inside you are disrespecting the Lord.

This is also not true.

So one day I found some words, either by reading or doing actual research- I don’t remember which and discovered dunamis sanctum- which in Greek means sacred power.  I prefer secret power, but it communicates who I am because I am typically a quiet person everywhere I go but God has deposited unique gifts in me as well and traditional churches can not manipulate that.

In the poem here I highlighted a few choice words and phrases. “Openly hidden” is an oxymoron although juxtapose to one another to convey a point about me. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. How can something/someone be open and hidden? Well that’s me. A box of conradictions.

At Night is the hour/time I had dreams which were potent enough to manifest the next day or three days later. This doesn’t happen often though. I captialized the N in night because it is an important hour for me.

Finally, the last phrase, “The Holy Spirit slices you from bone to marrow” is just a comeback of what could happen to those who judges others. Learning God’s Word and languishing in His love while still doing kindly to our enemies who judge us is what heaps coals upon their heads. I put a different spin on it though.

That’s my explanation for this particular poem but you can enjoy the entire eBook for free at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/20106

When words are not enough, the weakness of it in time of loss

Me and my husband just got back from a funeral today and the community, the world will surely miss the gentle young man and his smile. I sat in the church today and looked all around me. Some people I haven’t seen in years: they are grown up now with children, full figures, beards and a new walk. They appear more serious now and are not the little children I knew once before. It was downright scary, serious, but wholly the cycle of life was written on their faces.

I smelled the sweetness in the sanctuary, that smell of cologne, or lotions…but I call it love. Some faces were dry but were deep in thought over what happened. Some faces were drenched in tears needing to be wiped away. Needing for someone to shout, “It was all just one bad dream! We’re in it together but we can wake up and our dear friend will be here once again!”

But I know it is real.

The preacher focused on some terrifying but real thoughts. We need to love today. Repent to God today. Tomorrow or even the next hour is not even promised to us and so this I knew already.

But what I didn’t know was how hard it could be to form words for how we feel. It never seems…adequate. Should we even worry over what to say in a eulogy? Is it important? Some got up with a beautiful poem(poetry cuts close to the words we need), some shared advice, some shared funny memories(which lighten the mood some), and others gave what God had to say in His Word(which was Truth) and so I now ask myself. What are the words I can say aloud to the someone who is no longer physically here?

I can start by saying how I knew the person but then it will be a thought bouncing back to the person no longer being here.

I can start by telling a funny story about the person, but then new memories would not ever form. I clasp the old ones to my heart, the eternal memories.

I can quote the Bible, but it works during my time of joy and the words never truly stick until I am at the point of unbearable pain and must seek the ancients, the sages, the high priests of old to say for me what I cannot.

All these things I can say, and it will always be inadequate…

Inadequate meaning, it doesn’t ever compare to We Will ALWAYS Miss You.

And even that doesn’t place a balm to our pain.

I leave this with you all: The words you have for someone today- share them. If they are words that are hard to chew, dress it in love. Tell someone you love them so much today and watch the meanings fall upon them like  summer rain and even if they don’t say it back to you right away- it sunk into their living, breathing souls.

It did.

‘Sea of Iron Hands’ introduces itself and discount codes for you as a gift

Hi!

My mother, author Erica Jean Smith failed to mention that I was conceived during a time when God was moving mightily in her life and her old doubts simply fled away. It was certainly replaced by more faith, more spiritual growth, and yes, a new set of problems such as dwelling on the past and pondering what ifs; trying to be strong for her family, and in the midst of it all something happened…

As she was writing and conceiving me, she began to watch animations and more movies about superheroes: Dragonball Z, The Last Airbender, X-Men, Spiderman, the list goes on, and she realized these characters have something in common- they all had to grow up.

And thats what this life is all about. Continuing to grow. Humans have the natural inclination to know. I am more than a book about poetry. I am something of verbal snapshots of what God has said, the movies have said and what Erica has told me. It can be abstract sometimes and maybe what I am is fact dressed as fiction, but your Spirit will understand the meanings behind the madness anyway.

It will be nice to know you and be in your hands and heart, but I am here to encourage you and make you think. That is more important.

I turn it over to ma now——

Alright, so now that Sea of Iron Hands told you all of my business here is where you can find out more, including more samples and discounts for you, my followers and readers. In a way, I am saying thanks for your support of my blog.

For discount on Sea of Iron Hands Print/Paperback, order on CreateSpace using discount code QB6776AM to take 50% off. Regular price is $7.99

For discount on eBook on Smashwords, use discount code RH52J to take 50% off. Regular price is $2.99

Offer ends 9/30/2012

P.S. You can read 20% of my book free on Smashwords before you make a purchase.

What is a parable? Looking at the sower and those “stony” places

Photographer| Wolfgang Staudt

A parable, according to Merriam Webster’s online dictionary is specifically “a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle” It originated from late Latin, parabola which is formed by para + ballein(to throw more at)

Why am I even discussing this? Briefly, I’d like to mention Jesus’s reason and method for sharing parables.

First, in Matthew 13:3, he tells the story of the sower. If you do not know about this powerful story, please look it up online or grab your bible and turn to the book of Matthew. In a nutshell, it is the story of someone who scatters seeds everywhere and some landed on the “wayside”, others landed on the “stony” places where there wasn’t much soil. And still others fell among the thorns to be choked up. The rest landed in good, rich soil(read more of the story to learn what the parable means)

Now, one thing I enjoy about my Lord Jesus Christ is that he tells you the “why” of something-  including stories. In Matthew 13:10 the disciples ask him why must he tell these stories in the first place? Jesus answers that “the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you” and in verses 12-23 he tells the disciples “people see yet do not see and hear yet do not hear” and he breaks down the parable for what it means.

What Jesus meant with his answer can be interpreted in various ways; however the story of the parable is pretty easy to understand once you have a good grasp on life’s idiosyncrasies. Jesus talks about the prophecies in Isaiah, perception and knowing the truth.

All of this to understand one parable.

At first I was going to break down the entire parable here in this post and see how much fun we can have creating our based on the format of Jesus’ parable, but for now I understand(and I hope you do too), that it doesn’t matter if your parable is really, really short, or just “medium-short”, as long as it illustrates some sort of moral attitude.

It’s a parable.

If you have not already, please head over to my Fringe Fiction page to read my really short parables -this will be updated periodically.

Not your typical ‘Twilight’, review of Peter James’ ‘Twilight’ from ’91

Twilight by Peter James

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is not like the series Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Twilight by Peter James was published in ’91 and is far darker and thrives on the fluid ability to write in flashbacks that draw up to the present. I’ll explain later. For now here’s the backdrop.

Sally Donaldson has just been buried. She was twenty three and pregnant, just got married. However some people, including the vicar or grave attendant,would hear scratching noises from the young woman’s coffin. Was Sally Donaldson buried alive?

Kate Hemingway, a reporter, tries to find the truth after stumbling upon the story and when she is there during the exhumation, what she finds is horrific and beyond all her nightmares. In the midst of this terrifying ordeal, an anesthetist is hung up on life after death and he is ruthless in finding out the truth of what happens when people die.

So this brings us to the story’s set up in general. The book begins with Sally Donaldson being buried and that in itself is quite hard to deal with. Even in fiction. For she was newly wed and pregnant. Then we are thrust into the 60’s with Harvey Swire and his dark depression over his dead mother and then he eventually gets into an accident, causing his soul or what he calls “consciousness” to float up from his body and this pushes him further on edge in his medical studies. What he does will probably shock you.

Each chapter focused on either Kate or Harvey, however the story converges together, making for a quick paced read; and although you can piece together who is behind the mysterious death immediately, I doubt that’s the point of the book. Peter James wanted us to see inside what we all want to know: Can we see through the glass darkly? Is it possible to reach a frontier in death and then come back to our bodies? Why is it that when some die and cross that frointier of the afterlife, they are told to “Go back, you’re not ready.”

The book was certainly a book to think about long after.

If you like: Robin Cook’s medical thrillers and the question of life after death then, you’ll love this book.

Book Details:

Title: Twilight

Author: Peter James

Published: St. Martin’s Press(1991)

ISBN: 0-312-08914-7

View all my reviews

Dark before dawn: ‘Emerald City’ blog tour interview with Alicia K. Leppert

Alicia K. Leppert talks about her new book Emerald City and how Olivia and Jude’s story is basically our story. In the novel, Olivia suffers from severe depression and is rescued by her mysterious neighbor named Jude. Jude could be more than he really seems, but will this revelation help or harm Olivia?

Examiner : Did you plan the concept of the story or did the Olivia and Jude’s story kind of formed along the way?

Alicia K. Leppert: I had a very basic idea of how I wanted the story to go when I started. It wasn’t until a few chapters in that suddenly the outline of the story unfolded in my mind, at least 3/4 of it. I had no idea how it was going to end until I was actually writing the ending.

Examiner:  I must admit that Olivia’s stream of thought was much, but enlightening; however things really picked up with Jude entering the scene. He’s an interesting person. Tell me, will we see more of him and Olivia in another book…? (Will there be another book and when?)

Continue reading on Examiner.com