Review Saturday! Here are some recent reviews for Desert Breeze Titles.

BY HEART AND COMPASS
by: Danielle Thorne
"This is the first book that I have read of Ms. Thorne’s but I was captured right from the beginning. I especially like the sayings before each chapter. Read as a pirate would say it. Excellent Book... You’ll be in for a great adventure."

Miss Lynne's Books and More
Rating = 5 Stars - 'A'

THE BLOODSTAINED BISTRO
by: Susanne Marie Knight
"This is the first in the Minx Tobin series by talented author Susanne Marie Knight and you'll be waiting for the next one, just to see what happenx next. The hint of romance blended in, promises sparks will fly...I'm pleased to recommend The Bloodstained Bistro to any mystery fan. The interesting settings and characters will keep you reading. Enjoy. I did."

Anne K. Edwards - Mysteryfiction.net

MIRACULOUS DECEPTION
by: PI Barrington

"Barrington pens a pulse-pounding sequel that will keep the reader on the edge of a precipice with Miraculous Deception, Book Two in the Future Imperfect Series...Barrington goes from thrill to thrill with ease... Miraculous Deception is a worthy, edgy sequel to Crucifying Angel."

Stephanie - Classic Romance Revival Reviews
Rating = 4 Wings


CHOSEN TARGET
by: Melanie Atkins
"The plot of this story starts out with a bang and the excitement does not end until the very exciting climax. Cole and Jaden are destined to be together if Cole can only get past his brother's death and his own lost love... you will be on the edge of your seat until the very end of the story."

Maura Frankman - The Romance Studio
Rating = 4.5 Hearts


IN THE MANOR OF THE GHOST
by: Tina Pinson
"Few books have had this effect on me: I finished in three days, and most of the time, I was reading past midnight to find out what would happen next... Clever writing, a twisting plot, and many slowly unraveling mysteries await in this gothic-feeling romance. Secrets, rumors, and a sparking romance pulled me onward to see if a happily ever after ending would win out as two stubborn souls with painful pasts find solace in one anothers' arms. For a debut novel, Ms. Pinson has proven herself with a riveting tale and characters that will keep you guessing."

Kathleen L. Maher - History Repeats Itself review blog

THE HUNGARIAN
by: Stephanie Burkhart
"I appreciated the newness of the setting. Haven't read many historicals set in Hungary. As it happens, I do love a unique historical. And I think this one was... And, of course, I happened to have just seen The Wolfman and loved it. Slightly different time period, slightly different plot, but very similar in a lot of good ways...Overall, a great historical paranormal read. Worth the time and money to pick it up if this is your arena."

Rebecca Lynne - The Pen and Muse Reviews

Featured Author - PI Barrington blogs about Las Vegas (Contest!)

Location, Location, Location!

P.I. Barrington

Okay, I stole that title from one of my sister’s articles but since I’m older than her, I can do what I want. At least that’s what I tell her. Never believes me though.
In any case it’s still apropos especially when talking about locations inspiring writing. One of my favorite locations is where my Future Imperfect series takes place: Las Vegas, Nevada.

Why? Aside from the obvious draw of gambling the city is one of a kind. First and foremost, it’s the location of the location that sets it apart. Las Vegas is in the center of nowhere. It’s surrounded by seemingly barren desert for hundreds of miles (if you discount State Line and Jean - two other mini Mecca for gambling: sort of pre-Vegas Vegas) when it suddenly rises up garish and loud if you arrive by night; tacky and drab if you arrive before sunset. Either time of day your first glimpse of Sin City is something you most likely won’t ever forget.

I’ve been visiting Las Vegas since the Excalibur was the new, impressive casino resort, circa roughly 1990. I’ve seen implosions of casinos and explosions of them as well. While some were blown down, others exploded up onto the Strip like eruptions of decadence and glamorous luxury. My mother still holds the belief that Bugsy Siegel is still the best psychologist in the world. She says that he tapped into the one thing people can barely resist: the luck of the draw and the possibility of that big win. Don’t believe her? Walk through any casino and listen to those one armed bandits, the slot machines.

Yet, while that is one of major reasons for setting Future Imperfect there, the city also jives with my story of a near future Las Vegas, one that is down on its own luck and scrambling to function as a city at any cost. When I started the series I wanted to set it somewhere instantly recognizable and somewhere that readers could picture as increasingly decrepit and desperate. Las Vegas has both those elements to different degrees and its economy right now is in dire straits, perhaps not to the extent as in the series but close and that makes Future Imperfect very plausible. If you’ve ever watched the show Cops, you might have seen the show on location in Vegas. That show exposes another side of Sin City, perhaps where some of the real sin happens—on the back streets and alleys off the Strip. Again, it all adds to the verisimilitude of Future Imperfect; that there is more to the city than just the casinos and adventures. Another aspect that I love about a future Las Vegas in financial desperation is that I can play loose and fast with rules and regulations! I have police and hospital staff pulling double and triple duty and the city officials looking the other way or saying “damn the torpedoes!” just to keep the city running. In Future Imperfect for the most part I’ve done away with protocols and procedures and city personnel do whatever they need to solve crimes and keep as much order as they can! It’s the perfect venue for crime and corruption to thrive virtually unchecked!

And finally, I come back to the biggest draw of all for me as an author: that writhing, seething, snaking thing called the Las Vegas Strip, that living organism comprised of thousands of tourists, tramps, ladies of the evening, and the rest of the working class population of Sin City all of whom draw their lives and livelihoods from it. If you drive down the Strip any time from dusk until dawn, you can almost feel it, that rhythm and music of city’s heartbeat, the people on the street acting as its lifeblood flowing up and down the artery of Las Vegas Boulevard. The real music spills out onto the boulevard from open faced smaller casinos, from fountains and fires and light shows of the giant casinos and even the cars move through traffic to the beat. This city is alive for good or bad, and in Future Imperfect you can take what you need from it but always at a cost. It can be your last day or your last dollar but Las Vegas in 2032 always exacts its price and there’s no hedging your bets. If you’re brave enough, foolish enough or crazy enough you might just hit it big in both love and money. And if you do, head out and don’t look back. Otherwise you might fall out of one love and into another: that beautiful mirage of an oasis located in the middle of nowhere.


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Thanks for visiting the blog, Patti! *smiles* Patti has generously autographed a UNIQUE MEDIA Map of Las Vegas (ready for framing) and several postcards.

All you have to do to have a chance at winning the map & an autographed postcard is to sign in and tell Patti what you LOVE about Las Vegas. I'll pull the winner's name out of a hat on FRI, 18 JUN and announce it that morning (PST TIME) So C'Mon and sign in. What do you *LOVE* about Vegas?

Smiles
Moderator Steph

Featured June Release - Miraculous Deception by PI Barrington

THE BLURB:

Payce Halligan is nearly dead -- comatose, at the least -- when she disappears from her hospital room with no clue where she's gone. Even as he searches for his missing partner, Gavin McAllister must deal with a new, 'temporary' and hostile partner and rival for Payce, a seductive journalist, and the return of the deadly cult The New Creation.


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EXCERPT:

"What happened?" Gavin kicked off the wall as Georgene emerged from Payce's room with a weak, but still present, smile. "Is she alright?" He scanned her face for uncertainty.

"Believe it or not, yes. I thought she was gone for sure. Chalk it up to modern medical science."

"It sounded as if you were blasting cement. The whole building rocked. What did you do?"

"I took a major chance on a new machine that disrupts the body/brain functions. It forces resets of the organ systems. It's something akin to rebooting a computer. Until a few minutes ago, it was all theory. Now it's reality. You can't beat advances." Georgene smiled again.

"But she's okay?"

"Pffft! She's better than before. She's breathing on her own and from the current holograph, I'd say all systems are 'go.'"

"Oh, thank God. Georgene I could kiss you!"

"Do you see me objecting, Detective?"

He grabbed her face and planted a smack on her lips.

*****

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

P.I. Barrington has returned to her original career choice of fiction writing after a long detour in the entertainment industry. Her experience includes work as a newspaper journalist, radio air talent, and at a major record company. She lives in Southern California with her dog and wildlife in her rural neighborhood.

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Congratulations to Patti on her latest release!