eBook Miner discussion

1. Now - 9th Title submissions are posted. Submission guidelines allow for a maximum of 500 words and your books title only. As the shortlisted books will be judged purely on this post it is recommended that the authors think outside the box (no posts to other websites, good reads link only) and post something which draws people in and gives enough away to leave everyone wanting more! (Check out the CODE OF CONDUCT PRIOR TO SUBMITTING -https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)

2. January 10th: the shortlisted/finalists will be announced (selected by the EBM team) - NOW, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

3. January 10th - 15th EBM members vote for the title they feel best represents our groups 'book of the month' here's the important part ***IF YOU VOTE FOR A TITLE & IT WINS, YOU MUST READ & REVIEW IT FOR THE AUTHOR!*** It needs to be completed by January 31st.

We understand sometimes "life" gets in the way but we don't want this to be habitual, if you can't commit to reviewing your choice, please don't vote.

4. January 15th Winning title announced based on tallied votes. The author provides the EBM team with three copies of their book (pdf/mobi/epub format.) This is required within 48 hours of winning. If you are an author and don't know how to format your book to this format, we will do it for you. As an author you MUST agree to donate the book to all who voted for it and you must also agree not to extend deadlines for readers. The program exists with a purpose.

5. Members have from January 17th to January 31st to read/review the book for the winning author!

6. EBM itself will support the winner by promoting their book on our Facebook page (17,000+ followers) our Twitter page (49,000 followers) and on our Goodreads group & Newsletter (1,800 members and growing!)

7. Send us your email address and preferred format if your book wins, within a 24 hr period of the end of voting. You can do this by messaging it to us here on good reads.

Nominate the book you want to read below, the AUTHOR MUST BE A MEMBER OF OUR GROUP and THE AUTHOR MUST NOT BE PUBLISHED BY A MAJOR PUBLISHING HOUSE/COMPANY. The book must have been edited and be of an acceptable publishing quality.

If you have any questions, please pm us directly. Thanks!

GOOD READS LINKS ONLY, NO SALES INFORMATION INCL DISCOUNTED PRICES ETC, THERE ARE OTHER THREADS FOR THAT!

I would like to nominate my book, Imperfect Strangers



4.4 stars on Amazon with 31 reviews

How well do you know the people you see every day?

Sally hardly knows Keith. They're practically strangers until the day she smiles at him.

Would you smile so readily if you risked losing your friends?
Would you smile so readily if you risked losing your life?

Unfortunately, you can’t begin to know a person until you let them in.

Imperfect Strangers: A psychological thriller that simmers to a dark and dramatic climax.

Here’s a taste of other readers’ thoughts on the book:

“Imperfect Strangers is an original story that grabbed me and didn’t let go even after the last page was read. I finished the book a fortnight ago and the characters and plot are still playing around in my head.”

“I loved this book - it was tense and tightly written with characters that really leapt off the page, fully rounded and believable.”

“A well-paced page turner with excellent characterisation and realistic dialogue. One of those rare books that is difficult to put down. Highly recommended.”

“A very well written psychological thriller that takes you with it and holds your interest until the very last word in the book…”

I would like to nominate my first published book, a YA with fantasy elements. I've published others since then, but this one is extra special to me.



Glory Alley and the Star Riders

Glory's life is out of control. A foreclosure notice hangs on the front door, classmates make fun of her hand-me-down clothes, her siblings are in trouble with the law and Dad seems to have given up on the entire family. The future looks bleak, but Glory has a plan. She'll strike it rich in Queen's Mesa, saving the house and her reputation. Then one fateful morning it actually happens. She finds a rock beyond compare, but three otherworldly guardians arrive to spoil the party.

They say moving the rock will disrupt magic-based worlds like their own. In order to set things right again, she must give up the stone, sealing her family's fate. If she refuses, alien civilizations will plunge into chaos. Surely, there's another option, but can she find it before everything falls apart?

REVIEWS

"Glory Alley isn't a wizard, she doesn't slay vampires or zombies, but she kicks butt in her very own way. Her weapon is never giving up. Glory rocks!"

"I found myself filled with joyful tears. This is a good book to read around Thanksgiving or Christmas."

"The author draws you into a realistic dramatic family life with a little fantasy on the side. This crazy family will make you appreciate your own. I won’t spoil the ending of the story, but if you like happy endings, you will love this one."

I would like to nominate my latest release Shadow Out of the Sky.

A scarecrow crucified on a wooden cross made from a pair of two-by-fours sits in a field of corn, placed there to frighten away birds and protect the crops. Under its straw hat large buttons pose as its eyes, placed there by child’s fingers, view something sinister in the grave sky, appearing in front of the full moon.

Twisting, it forms into a sleek black mass, peering down upon the town of Woodbury. Four demons called The Reckoning has pulled this shadow, this urban legend from the past, out of an unmarked grave to bring terror across the planet, shoving it toward an apocalypse.

Now it cuts through the air, as if it were opening wounds in flesh, peering down at the first house that it hovers over...

I would like to nominate my debut novel https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1....

Martin Sourdough is a homeless person who has chosen to turn his back on the corporate, material world; Willis Hancocks Jr. is a barrister, an alcoholic philanderer, and a misogynist; and Evelyn (aka Yvonne) is a prostitute. Turnstiles speaks to these social problems through the smaller scope of each character’s individual trials. There is a struggle that exists between the need to serve one’s own needs and the expectation to participate in the larger social scheme. Martin and Willis are both trying to fit into the world, but on their own terms. They are naïve, searching for an Eden-like state of being. Through a broader experience of personal fortune, misfortune, travel, and social interactions, they each learn to accept their path and take control of their own destinies. An empathetic and honest portrayal of human beings attempting to redefine themselves against the friction of idealism’s clash with societal expectations, Turnstiles is perfect for readers seeking a stirring, dramatic depiction of love, loss, impulse, and consequence.

I would like to nominate my book, Ardalia: The Breath of Aoles.

Pelmen owes a lot to the Boisencroix family. Until he met the son, Teleg, the only future he could see for himself was cutting up animal skins with a flint in his village’s nauseating tannery. It is his new friend who introduces him to woodworking. Better yet, Teleg’s father, Galn, has introduced him to archery, and Pelmen has such a natural talent with the bow that he alters the course of his destiny by becoming an archer.
One day, however, Teleg meets some strangers in a tavern. By offering him a fragment of amberrock, the most precious of minerals, and promising him untold riches, these mysterious individuals persuade him to leave home to work in a mine. When Pelmen learns that these strangers are fire-worshipers, he immediately launches himself into an adventure.
In order to rescue his friend from the clutches of the nylevs, servants of the god of destruction, Pelmen must overcome his fears and ally himself with strange and fantastic beings: a shaman who controls the breath of Aoles, or the power of the wind; a Krongos, a creature of the mineral realm capable of incorporating himself into rock; and a Malian, adept at water magic.

The Negative's Tale

On a space station in Earth orbit, something terrible has happened to Bertie Lindermann.

Under normal circumstances, the investigation would be a job for station security, but circumstances are anything but normal.

Allon Wu might be the last person you would entrust with unraveling a high profile mystery, but there is no one else.

With deceit the order of the day, who is not a suspect? Is this an isolated incident or the precursor of a storm that could throw Kostya station into chaos? When will it be too late? Who can he trust? Can he prevent this crisis from spinning out of control? This is his best chance to regain Lovey's trust, and Allon is determined not to let her down again.

Allon Wu is the Negative.

Hi, I'd like to nominate my eBook Fancy Pants Poetry

The poetry you'll meet in this collection will be biting, defensive, cynical and sarcastic. Dark humour is used to elaborate upon bleak life outlooks. At many times the spirit in these poems are rooted in antonymous rebellion. All that said, the reader will also encounter various instances synonymous with the proverbial "light at the end of tunnel".

May I second Imperfect Strangers?

I would like to nominate my eBook A CORPSE IN THE SOUP

It is the award-winning first book in the zany Silver Sisters Mysteries series. When Officer Neidermeyer says, "Something smells fishy here," he isn't joking. The murder victim is a famous TV chef found face down in a bowl of bouillabaisse, his favorite kitchen knife firmly planted in his back.

Identical twins Goldie Silver and Godiva Olivia DuBois lead the reader on a wild chase through the world of glitzy TV cooking shows and the internationally televised Gourmet Gladiators Tournament, in search of the REAL killer. Along the way, they get unwanted help from their 80 year old mother and uncle, former vaudeville magicians who love to dress in disguise and go undercover. Fast moving, twists and turns and wacky character names. Amazon rating 4.4 with 31 reviews.

I would like to nominate Jolie Mae Miller for her book The Good Samaritan. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

Can money really buy you happiness?

What would you do to support your family?

The Macintyre family faces struggles of alcoholism and severe financial hardship after having it all and losing everything. Jeremy is forced into the ranks of the long-term unemployed, destroying his family with his alcohol addiction, and leaving Lizzie Macintyre to provide for the family in a most unconventional way. Just how far is Lizzie willing to go to save her family?

Jack Loving Jr., of the Loving family, is sole heir to Richmond’s most philanthropic family’s Trust. He and wife, Victoria, work hard to honor his family’s long-standing tradition of serving the less fortunate, forcing Jack to sacrifice his lifelong dreams. Jack faces serious challenges when someone close betrays him, turning his world upside down. Can Jack create happiness for himself?

When Jack has a chance encounter with Lizzie, never could they imagine their families would eventually need one another.

This book has strong explicit sexual content and not intended for readers under 18 years old. (less)

A House Without Windows

I would like to nominate my Suspense/Romance novel 'A House Without Windows'.

Amy thinks she may be eight or nine years old. She has never seen the outside world, and can only relate to it through reading the one book given to her by her captor, Edwin Evans.

As she grows older, Amy begins to realise that her mother, Beth, wants to find some means of escaping from Edwin's windowless house. She listens when Beth reassures her that Liam, the father she never knew, will somewhere, somehow, still be out there searching, and that one day they will all be together again.....

This book has many ratings on Goodreads, and has been given a 5 star seal of approval from the President of the Rave Reviews Book Club (RRBC). It was also nominated for the RRBC Book of the Year competition.

Of Foreign Build: From Corporate Girl to Sea-Gypsy Woman
After suffering an emotionally-brutal bereavement and against her counsellor’s advice, Jackie ran away. Suddenly within a new culture, with a new husband, and no friends, she was living in the obscure world of cruising with zero knowledge of boats.
Crashing within the first twenty-four hours, Jackie realised life would never be the same again; a floating home with no fridge or hot water, and with a dinghy instead of a car. Suffering self doubts, she became fearful of her new world.
The first off-shore voyage took Jackie into a ferocious storm, which battered her physically and mentally. Amid the raging seas, Jackie shed the fear she’d been harbouring.
Soon she was blissfully voyaging around the world, but she still carried the mixed emotions of losing one man, while falling head over heels in love with another.
Not only did Jackie deal successfully with the challenges of her new existence, she also battled with the testosterone fuelled nautical world to become both a professional captain and a qualified maritime teacher.
Most importantly, Jackie found herself.

I would like to nominate my fantasy GATHERING STORM.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

A few years have passed since Irene left Stagman and returned to her own world. In that time, her love for him has not diminished.

Driven by desire to be with him; Irene goes in search of her painting, Through a Glass. Sold in an exhibition, Irene has no idea where it is. She must find it! The painting is a portal, her only way to return to the man she loves. But will he be waiting for her as he promised? Will she have the courage to take that step of faith and return to him? Knowing there will be no way back.

Irene is blissfully unaware that returning to Stagman will plunge her into grave danger...unaware she will be a pawn in the hands of an evil tyrant. A King, whose only desire, is to destroy the man she loves.

Will Irene's return be the catalyst that plunges Stagman's world into war and tragedy?

Review : This Captivating Enthralling Magical Medieval Fantasy is a MUST READ!

Entering abruptly into a stressful reality, the prologue read so much like a part of the fiction that only upon seeing “Chapter One” did; I realize I hadn’t been where I thought I was! And knowing Y.I. Lee books are like this, I dove into the read and couldn’t gobble the words up fast enough for the author juxtaposed tension artfully and seamlessly while weaving reality and allegory into a fantasy beyond any I have read since finishing my read of Y. I. Lee’s “Through a Glass”, which was the first book in this saga.

Hello all, I would like to nominate the first book of my YA 'Gateway' series.The Calling
On the run and hiding from ‘the suits’, Carolyn’s life is far from straightforward. After her mother and brother go missing in a most extraordinary way, (through a hole to another world which appears in the kitchen wall!), she is determined to track them down and bring them home. But life is never that easy! Rescued and protected by a group of unusual and like-minded ‘people’, Carolyn hones her magic and fighting skills. Whilst answering a ‘call’ to retrieve a human from another world she’s faced with a quick decision and ends up bringing a demon back with her.
*71 Reviews on amazon.com with 4.6 Average.
This is part of a series so please don't vote for 'The Calling' if you dislike a good cliffhanger ending!
Reviews:
"The Calling is full of unique ideas and the world building is outstanding." - R.D. Hale
"I fell in love with the main character (Carolyn)," - Gerald Lizee
"This book fascinates as well as entertains" - Mike Meyer
"But if you like the horror and the terror dialled up high with your fantasy, and you’re willing to be a little more patient as a reader to put in the extra work needed to puzzle out what’s going on with the clues the author does give you, you might want to check this one out." - Dean

Thank you for allowing me to nominate Perdition Games: Simon Says, a mystery-thriller featuring female PI Sam McNamara.

Currently rated: 4.4/5 from 18 ratings on Goodreads

“Page after page of excellent writing, capturing the essence of very disturbing minds.” Darlene Cruz, Goodreads

“L.E. Fraser knows how to write an engaging, captivating novel, and I see a bright future for her.” Christine Terrell, Goodreads

“This is a deftly plotted novel that kept me reading and guessing until the end.” Joseph Hirsch, Goodreads Author

Joining a cult is easy, getting out alive is another story

When the secretive, wealthy Reid family hires PI Samantha McNamara to find their missing teenage daughter, Sam’s investigation leads to a commune recruiting adolescent girls. As the storm of the century shuts down emergency services, someone in the Reid family will do anything to keep Sam from finding Amanda and exposing the truth. The family’s dark tapestry slowly unravels the deeper Sam goes, and at the bottom lies nothing but betrayal, blame and murder.

I would like to nominate my book

Currently with 70 five star reviews:

"Fans of Sex and the City - Grossman makes a reference to Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big - will enjoy the story, but its real-girl charm should draw an even wider crowd." - Kirkus Reviews
 
"Dangled Carat sparkles with humor and shines with wisdom. It is a gem of a book." - Christina Baker Kline - New York Times & USA Today Best Selling Author of Orphan Train.

For every girl who wondered if she should love him or dump him.....

For every girl who listened to her heart instead of her friends advice....

For every girl who l wondered if she was wasting her time dating that guy....

meet Hilary....

She had gotten used to dating the commitment-phobic Marc, thirteen years her senior. They had a great relationship--why rush into things? She saw no need to pressure him for marriage, believing that when the time was right, he would propose. But after they had been together for four years, their friends decided to take matters into their own hands, pushing Marc to propose and making Hilary realize how much she really did want to marry the man that she loved. Unfortunately, Marc still wasn't ready--and their friends' meddling in the form of a faux engagement party led to a disastrous New Year's Eve that brought their relationship to an inevitable turning point.

For anyone who has ever dated a commitment-phobe, who has found their patience wearing thin with the one they love, or who has sat around wondering if he is ever going to pop the question while trying to remain the very picture of patience and grace, Hilary's humorous and honest story will hit home.

Thank you for your consideration!
Hilary

I would like to nominate J.S. Collyer's debut novel "Zero" (sequal coming in October 2015). Northern Soul nominated it as one of their "Best Reads of 2014".

Zero

Humans have colonised the Orbit, branching out from an overpopulated and war-torn Earth to establish cities on the Moon and in space. Policed by The Service, this is a whole new world of service and Spacers where life is hard and comes at a price.

Kaleb Hugo is a former Service commander, publicly disgraced and dismissed for disobeying orders to save lives, but secretly reassigned as captain of the Zero: A government-funded black ops privateer ship on the edge of Orbit law. The ship is publicly disavowed but privately essential to the Service, existing solely to mix with pirates, terrorists and criminals and to serve the establishment's underground agenda.

With his commander, Ezekiel Webb, and crew, Hugo, at first a reluctant soldier in his new role, will uncover a vast conspiracy which will threaten the very Orbit itself and drive it to all-out civil war.

As they race against time to avert catastrophe, what will become of the Zero and her crew?

"Being a bona fide fantasy nut sci-fi isn't usually something I seek out but I'm so glad I did with Zero :) The author very successfully creates such an immersive World of technology, subterfuge, tested loyalty and friendship that you find yourself sucked into the novel with no hope of escape until you have finished. Oh and need I say it has space pirates and lasers, who doesn't like those? :)" - 5* Amazon Review.

"This is an ambitious first novel, one which creates a sprawling and credible near-future, a tense and turbulent political situation, and then throws a rogue crew of space pirates into the mix. We’re a long way from old-school ‘hard’ sci-fi which tried as hard to be technically accurate as it did to tell a good story. Nope, think instead of Star Wars" - 4* Amazon Review

The Fence
Steve Wilder has never killed anyone.
The year is 2167, and the centenary of ‘The Fence’ approaches. The Fence – a deadly electronic barrier - was activated to enclose a vast area of the Middle-East following Al-Qaeda’s '12 Nations' nuclear atrocity. Its aim – to protect the rest of the world from murderous fundamentalist fanatics.

Kinza Yousif kills for a living.
Steve Wilder has invented a revolutionary microchip. Wilder’s company is subjected to legal attempts to expose the chips secrets, but why? And by whom? And then the killings begin and the clues emerge. Is some organisation aiming to destroy The Fence and free the region from Western oppression? In a society where treachery, betrayal and murder are common currency, the truth is elusive.

Yousif’s masters have devised a far deadlier plot than anyone has imagined, with global consequences. Wilder holds the key to their success – a microchip the fanatics will do anything to obtain.

Wilder and his small team are drawn into a world they know nothing about. - a world outside the laws of civilisation in which killers, extremists and Special Forces make up their own rules.
A world in which there can be only one winner - and at stake is the future of the human race…

Reviews:
"This not-so-distant-future story is chillingly current in it's portrayal of events in the middle East and around the world - a tense tale of cunning conspiracies, treasonous terrorism, government gaffs and black-op bad asses."

"..really good story that kept me gripped to the end... The characters are well drawn and believable, my favourite was Faisal, the cruel and yet cowardly baddy..."

"True to life, this is no goodies-against-the-baddies straight-forward story. It is about personalities, skills, and trying to survive by what you know – whichever side you are on....Favourite characters were Jay, Steve and Kinza. Jay, the computer program with a personality, feels totally believable and you are able to see his logical progressions in the steps that he takes as he influences the story. (Yes, I’ve called it ‘he’. You will too). Kinza, merciless and cold-blooded, almost comes across as a tragic figure as the story progress and, at times, it is difficult not to feel sorry for him..."

I would like to nominate the environmental thriller, "Green Power", for January 2015 EBM BOTM.

Green Power
Following the Three Mile Island accident and the deadly Chernobyl disaster, the safety of nuclear power frightened everyone. This prevailing attitude stimulated the protagonist (Dr. Ray Pendleton) in the thriller novel, Green Power, to lead a demonstration to close down Rancho Seco Nuclear Power Plant. Following the shutdown of this power plant, the antagonist (Dirk Hendrickson) loses his job as head of security. Dirk convinces two of his fellow Delta Valley Militiamen to physically attack Ray. Ray survives the beating and is motivated to set up methane digesters as an alternative source of electrical power for Lodi dairies.
Dirk’s continued attacks on the professor and his projects results in a death threatening epidemic pointing to one of Ray’s methane lagoons as the cause. The infected patients are admitted to UC Davis Medical Center. Linda McCord, a lab tech at the hospital and former microbiology student of Dr. Pendleton, works with Ray to prove that the methane power source is not the cause of this spreading disease. Both Ray and Linda develop a romantic relationship while working together. Linda is devastated when Ray comes down with a serious infection caused by the same type of bacterium responsible for the epidemic.

Review by Johhny Electriglide of the Evirolink Forum:
Finished it today, and give it a thumbs up! It has elements of an action thriller, environmental thriller, romance novel, and tear jerker in one spot. Almost historical because almost all of it takes place in 1989, with a short chapter at the end bringing us up to the present. Well done, and recommended reading for those who like to read a mix of science fact, action and romance, and a little 1980s history in dramatic fiction. Well developed characters, and even though we know the answers to parts of the medical thriller and crime drama, it is fun to have the various characters find the answers.
There are a few points of slight errors, but nothing serious enough to take away from a great reading book. The expertise of the microbiology science more than made up for that. Five Stars!

I would like to nominate my new book The Girl in the Shadows
Grace is growing up in rural Ireland during the fifties. Her way of looking at the world is often hilarious but her life has a dark undercurrent which she has to learn to overcome.
Laugh with Grace as she blithely sails through daily life and cry with her as she begins to realize that she is somehow different from her peers.
This coming of age drama is filled with the bittersweet tales of a young girl struggling to be accepted with often humorous results.

I would like to nominate a historical romance by Zack Love , for January 2015 EBM BOTM.

The Syrian Virgin
Anissa is traumatized by the most brutal conflict of the 21st Century: the Syrian Civil War. In 2012, Islamists in Homs terrorize a Syrian-Christian community and destroy everything that a young woman holds dear. Narrowly escaping death, Anissa restarts her devastated life as a college student in NY. She is bewildered and lost -- a virgin in every sense.

But despite her inexperience with men and life in the United States, Anissa is quickly drawn to two powerful individuals: Michael Kassab, the Syrian-American leader working to found the first Mideast Christian state, and Julien Morales, her Columbia University professor who runs a $20 billion hedge fund.

Complicating matters, Michael is still attached to his ex-girlfriend and Julien is the most sought after bachelor in Manhattan (and has hidden demons even his therapist can't extract). Anissa's heart and her communal ties pull her in different directions, as she seeks hope and renewal in a dark world.

LIFE shattered her. LOVE empowered her.

I would like to nominate my Urban Fantasy book, [URL=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... My Pay Grade"[/URL]

Hi, my name is NA, I found myself in the middle of a situation worse than anything I have been involved in before. I was born with a special ability to change matter and energy, but in this case will it be enough save my friends---and me?

There is a flu going around making Users and Mages sick, and killing some. It is NA’s job—she has the special geas to prove it—to find the cause and to stop it, before something terrible happens.

She just has to get around her emotional baggage, a grizzly, a griffin, ghosts, an AI Trick, and an angry abuser who wants revenge on NA and other dangers. At the same time, she has to figure out what a friend is.

She is out of her pay grade, has no plan to find, or defeat the cause, and is caught in a wave of anger at her friends. Yet, somehow she is the only one who can stop this flu.

The geas and the Power behind it, must have made a mistake and sent it to the wrong person. However, since she has it, it’s her job to stop a horrible event from happening. To make it worse she has a deadline: one she doesn’t know even exists. A large job for a Freak with a lot of emotional baggage, and doubts.

I would like to nominate my book "Warzone: Nemesis" Currently has a 4.2/5 star average on Amazon with 15 reviews. Military science fiction.

"In 1959, an alien vessel crashed on the Navajo reservation, ushering forth a colonial space race in the solar system between the two superpowers. The prize is the mysterious metal known only as alloy-x and the alien technology that promises to make one nation or the other the dominant superpower in the arms race. The American commander finds himself fighting with the toughest antagonist of his career. He had finally met his nemesis. The stakes are high. Losing the struggle could tip the balance of power on the Earth, giving the Soviets the advantage in Earth’s cold war."

Review excerpts from Amazon:

“Readers who like war stories will like this, readers who like sci-fi will like this and video game fans will eat this up with a spoon!"

Kelly Smith Reviews

"What if the Roswell UFO incident happened in 1959 rather than 1947? What if the first people on the scene were spiritually savvy Navajos rather than government sceptics?

Using a skeleton akin to one of Harry Turtledove’s alternative histories, Warzone: Nemesis, A Novel of Mars by Morris Graham introduces the reader to a very believable “what if?” scenario. Blending a plausible US Cold War alternative reality with the genre of science fiction, Graham gives a credible account of the venerable Roswell incident moved forward in time by a dozen years."

By Jim Grieme

"This story had my attention from the beginning. With well-developed and realistic characters, exciting action, and a entertaining storyline, this novel kept my attention. The author takes the reader on an exciting journey from beginning to end."

By Y Decker

"Morris Graham's novel deftly blends many themes, paints many pictures, and will, no doubt, appeal to a very wide audience: honor, loyalty, romance, religion, extreme physical and mental training of soldiers, combat operations, American immigrants (Russian-American, Chinese-American), Soviet culture and, of course, unconventional science-fiction.

Graham's great descriptive powers and meticulous research are evident in his very impressive discussion of Mars' surface and environment, and his combat descriptions are gripping reading, indeed. But I was pleasantly surprised and equally impressed by his non-military writing: his exploration of the inner conflicts of his complex characters and their efforts to cope with existential challenges on earth and beyond - engaging psychological drama."

By WeakAmerican

Morgan wrote: "I would like to nominate my eBook A CORPSE IN THE SOUP

It is the award-winning first book in the zany Silver Sisters Mysteries series. When..."

This one sounds pretty good.

Hilary wrote: "I would like to nominate my book

Currently with 70 five star reviews:

"Fans of Sex and the City - Grossman makes a reference to Carrie Bradshaw and Mr. Big - w..."

Another good one. I can't wait to vote!

Nominating my book Melody Jackson and the House on Lafayette Street 23 reviews on Amazon 4.7 rating / 38 ratings on GoodReads / 4.5 overall rating.

For the description of the book, here's Laura Hartman's review:


Johnson's Melody Jackson novel is YA Sci Fi gold. Snappy dialog and a solid storyline make this book a winner.

Melody and her unlikely friend/accomplice in this adventure are thrust together by meddling mothers. Most, if not all teens and tweens can relate to meddling parents who mean well but totally miss the mark. Flutter's mother and Melody's mom were connected via a community college class, and when Flutter's parents had to go out of town for the weekend Melody's mom saw a perfect (in her eyes) opportunity for Melody to spend less time alone and maybe have a friend.
Strange things began to happen on the way home from the art class the girls shared. Given the task of fundraising, Flutter was all in. Melody could care less about the whole thing until Flutter approaches the house next to the Jackson's where the creepy old man lives. This begins a chain of events that cannot be contained.

The Jackson family is odd. Melody's mom puts on a happy face, hiding secrets and her dad is paranoid and at times a bit disconnected from reality. All of this hinges on something in their past that Melody doesn't know about, but soon will.
Strangers begin to mill about the neighborhood, cats are missing and most disturbing, Melody's dad becomes zombie-like and begins on a mission known only to him. Out of fear and curiosity combined with the strong pull of love and family loyalty, Melody, her mom and Flutter are in for the duration with him.

The girls were vastly different, but the tension between them drove the story well. With all of the supernatural happenings and fear of the unknown the girls learn to work together and yet still don't like each other very much. I don't see them willingly hanging out at the mall together after this ordeal is over. This is much more likely than these two girls becoming best friends.

In addition to the meddling mothers, there are everyday events that occur during the craziness of the unknown that are relevant and allow the reader to relate to the characters, bringing them to life. Personally, I loved the off brand toys that line Melody's pristine room.
This was a fun read. I'm looking forward to more of Johnson's books

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I would like to nominate my bookAverage Joe

Haunted by a childhood tragedy, private investigator Joseph Beck struggles to maintain control against the curse that plagues his waking life; he can see into the spirit realm.

Forced to face more than just his own internal demons, he sets out on an investigation with the local police to find the serial killer that is both tormenting the city and threatening Joe’s life with a personal vendetta.

Through this personal journey, Joe receives unexpected help from a local preacher as his search for the killer brings him closer and closer to his own spiritual awakening.

I would like to nominate my book, Dark Tidings, as a candidate for the January EBM BOTM.



If I'd only a few moments to describe the book, I'd say something like this...

They stole millions from the world's richest bank, they infected the Internet with ancient magic and they wrecked our modern way of life… and they're the good guys.

But if I had a little more time, like I have here, I'd describe the story as follows...

What happens when ancient magic meets the internet? One thing is certain, modern life will never be the same again.

A thousand years ago, a young thief, Tung, and a disgraced wizard, Madrick, are thrust together in an executioner’s dungeon. In the darkness, Madrick reveals an incredible secret about a legendary spell. The great spell helps them escape their prison cell... and eventually their century.

Catapulted into the present day, their lives collide with Michael, a computer hacker who plans to destroy the world’s largest bank. But sinister people are tracking their every move and they will stop at nothing to steal their spell.

Dark Tidings is funny, thought-provoking and a little bit frightening. I just hope the idea of having a laugh while modern society disintegrates appeals to my fellow EBM members.

Thanks for the opportunity to participate.

Nominating my novel, Turner: Bitter Change

In the not too distant future...

Aliens invade and roll right over anything Earth has to offer in its defense.

They take possession and proceed to reconfigure things to their liking, wiping out old boundaries, establishing new ones, plundering the Earth of its resources. In effect, they are the new rulers of this little ball of mud.

A child is born five years after this violent disruption of human society. She is transforming into something that appears to be non-human.

How are these two events connected? Or are they?

Juri Turner hasn’t a clue. In fact, she doesn’t even think about it. She just tries to maintain a low profile and survive in what amounts to a post-apocalyptic world.

Ever since she was three years old and began growing scales all over her body, no one has liked her, not even her parents. In fact, everyone hates her practically on sight, or soon afterwards.

She has learned to cope with her lot in life after her own fashion, but one of her ways of coping has landed her in solitary confinement in a government run institution for the rehabilitation of wayward youth. And the government is run by the Artesio, the alien invaders.

Lately, one good thing has happened to her: whatever is causing everyone to hate her has dissipated. Unfortunately, the bad news is she’s undergoing further physical changes. And they’re accelerating. And drastic.

When her new alterations are discovered, she’s sent to another location for her own safety. There, she struggles to learn what she is and to understand why she has been subjected to such a change.

Will the witch she meets in her new home have answers to what she’s becoming?

A tale of bitter change. A tale of hate, love, and betrayal. One of a coming of age, and of spaceships and magic…

I would like to nominate my second book, The Fowler's Snare. The Fowler's Snare

Winning makes a warrior a legend. Losing is not an option. Egypt's races are about to begin.

When a band of Alodian outcasts crosses the border to Egypt, Pharaoh Kheper-Re invites them to compete in a grueling chariot race across the western desert against his bodyguard, Commander Shenq. The prize is great; the winner will be awarded the title of Supreme Commander of Thebes.

Determined to win, Commander Shenq and his team enter the race confronting the most brutal of obstacles. Not only must they beat the Alodians, they must also triumph over the punishing terrain, the savage desert jackals and the Imazi Bedouin.

With so much at stake, treachery and sorcery are once again in season as the princes of two rival kingdoms go head-to-head. It is a race that will cost the loser everything he holds dear.

Firstly, you’ve clearly done your research. I never felt I was in an Egypt informed by Hollywood and clichés –pyramids and mummies and curses. Instead you portray a vivid, ancient land, steeped in superstitious tradition, lavish royalty, with a diverse mix of peoples and cultures. Rachel Faulkner, Digital Project Editor, Harper Collins Publishers