What Lurks Below is a smartly written dystopian novel from Jordan Thompson.

At Colony, no one knows where the children came from. No one talks about how they were babies when they were ripped from their parents to be raised in the Tin Can.

No one knows, that is, except Amelia. At thirteen, Amelia remembers a mother who loved her. She remembers fresh peaches and ice cream—not the calorically rationed food that tastes like stagnant swamp water and chemicals.

Desperate to hold on to her memories, Amelia shares her past with her younger brother, Alex. She teaches him about the reality of The Garden and its power to provide safety and love.

Soon, Alex learns that life at Colony is more dangerous than he thought. He spies an enormous, black ... something ... lurking in the water, while no one seems to notice it at all.

Fear of the creature has Alex thrashing his sheets in bed. His marks drop, and Council insists on Amelia telling them what is wrong. Amelia tries to keep up appearances, but Council refuses to believe her and locks her up.

If Amelia isn’t willing to forgo the love she felt and the life she had back Then, Council will throw her in the water to meet whatever it is that lurks below the Tin Can.

For fans of The Giver, this dystopian-charged fantasy will show readers the valiance of holding on to one’s beliefs and the value of true sibling love. ​

Crystal's 4 Star Review

There were so many layers to this book. There is no wrong interpretation. The writing is phenomenal. The relationship between Amelia and Alex is tight. There were so many twists and little hints. My mind is blown. For being a Middle Grade book of sorts it kept my interest right to the end.

I recommend this to anyone 10 and up!
There were so many layers to this book. There is no wrong interpretation. The writing is phenomenal. The relationship between Amelia and Alex is tight. There were so many twists and little hints. My mind is blown. For being a Middle Grade book of sorts it kept my interest right to the end.

I recommend this to anyone 10 and up!

Only in a story from Eric Asher would the Hinge-tailed Bingbuffer of Missouri be the least of your worries! Nope, Mason and Emma find themselves on a mysterious search for a whistling wampus, but find much for than they anticipated.

I love Mason's quick wit and humor along with Emma's snarkiness. The New Templars Novellas are an addicting quick thrill!

~Lynn
​4 Stars

​They are the first line of defense against the things that go bump in the night.

They are the keepers of a centuries-old legacy of The Church defending the world against the forces of darkness.

They are a bunch of highly armed rednecks, internet video celebrities, soccer moms, and assorted broken nutjobs.

They are the new Templars, and things are about to get weird.

Mason Dixon, the internet superstar and cryptic hunter from the woods of Missouri, is back with a new adventure, new monsters to hunt, new video to shoot, and new mysteries to unravel! Mason and his much more sensible sidekick Emma re investigating a series of monster attacks when, as usual, they find much more than they bargained for.

Can Mason figure out how to build the easy-up tree stand?
Can they survive the fearsome Wampus?
Will they get enough cool footage to keep Himari happy?
How much gear can they destroy on one expense account?
The answer to all these questions and at least one more are hidden with The Wampus of Reeds Springs!

Mason Dixon, Monster Hunter is a series of comedy fantasy novellas set in the popular Bubba the Monster Hunter universe. These urban fantasy novellas, like Bookshots, are short, quick comic reads perfect for commutes or short plane rides.

​Nixie is one of my favorite characters from the Vesik series. She is a total badass and this story shows just how powerful she truly is. Nixie's story takes a look back at Atantis and just how far Nixie and the undines have come. The Book of the Sea is my favorite of the novellas.

​A kingdom fallen. A queen victorious. The return to a past long since abandoned...
With Damian trapped in the Abyss, Nixie ventures to a lost city in search of a powerful artifact known as the Eye of Atlantis. By harnessing its ancient magic, she may have a chance to undo what was done by Nudd.

But the path to the Eye is wrought with danger. Hidden at the bottom of the sea, it remains heavily guarded in the ruins of a forgotten city. Unfathomable creatures stand in her way, yet the true threat may lie with the Fae themselves.

It’s war the Unseelie Fae want. To protect her family, it’s time for Nixie to show them why the water witches are to be feared.

​At seventeen, Mattie Hathaway has survived her mother attempting to kill her, multiple foster homes, and a serial killer. Oh, and she sees ghosts on a regular basis too. You’d think Fate would give her a break right? Umm…nope, not Mattie.

Dan Richards is the only person in the entire world Mattie trusts, but then the boy goes and breaks her heart. Mattie does what she does best, she runs and lands herself slap in the middle of a haunted house full of ghosts turned vengeful that want Mattie to join their ranks.

Only bright spot on all this? Eli Malone – the gorgeous boy with the beautiful aqua eyes that makes her feel things she’s never even imagined before. She’s not sure what to do with him, especially when Dan shows up glowering at him.

She’ll figure Eli out if she can survive the house. The ghosts are bound and determined to kill her so she’ll be one of them. Now if she can just figure out how to survive them and the demon stalking her, she might be able to decide what to do about her feelings for Dan and Eli.

​I read this book in one night. The author pulled me into the story immediately and didn't let go. I enjoyed the addition of the Malones. I look forward to seeing where things go between Eli and Mattie or if Dan and Mattie will realize they are perfect together. There are some interesting plot twists in this installment and I cannot wait to dive into Book 3.

Congratulations on releasing the final full length novel in the series. I can't wait till the collection is on my book shelf.  ~ Lynn

Holy smokes! Melanie Gilbert saved the best for last. Deal was non stop action. The plot twist was a heck of a ride. You won't see it coming but it will leave you on the edge of your seat. I found myself with bated breath through most of the story. Bravo. Melanie!

SF Benson has been on my radar for years. Despite having 3 of her titles on my bookshelf it has taken me F-O-R-E-V-E-R to read one of her books. To rectify this, I plunged into Blood Vendetta.  OH MY GAWD. What have I been waiting for? 

Blood Vendetta left my head spinning. This arc is filled with twists and turns. The secrets, lies, and political espionage create a thrilling page turner. Morgan is a fierce MC who battles ghosts from her past while trying to solidify her future. The BGS is made up of quite the cast of supernaturals all working towards the same goal. Or are they?

I cannot wait for the next installment in this series. SF Benson has a new fan!

​SF Benson, a Michigan native, resides in Georgia with her husband, a human daughter, and a couple of miniature fur kids (two female short-haired guinea pigs). At one time she wrangled a household which included three Samoyeds, saltwater fish, a hamster, and three guinea pigs.
SF has always wanted to be a writer, but she’s had a variety of positions ‘feeding’ her creative brain—blogger/reviewer, customer service representative, veterinary assistant, marketing assistant, editorial assistant, receptionist, and even cashier for women’s clothing and shoes.
She’s an avid bookworm who appreciates a well-written book regardless of genre. SF prefers to write stories which allow her to answer the question “what if”. She leans towards writing strong, diverse protagonists set in dystopian, science fiction, or paranormal worlds.

​No one will tell Eva and Frost the truth about the Blurred Ones. Not their hunter friend, and definitely not the parentals. Maybe it’s because Frost spent time in a psychiatric ward and Eva never ceases to think with her hormones. So, when the girls see an opportunity to meet Albert Knox, the most infamous Blurred One of all, they lie about their true plans and head out on their field trip to San Antonio.

When the sisters get to town, though, a ghost woman keeps attacking them in their hotel room, and they end up getting one of their classmates killed. Eva thinks she can use her feminine wiles to woo Knox, but he has a couple of more minions than they thought—and she ends up getting tossed through the window. If the sisters and their newfound hunter friends don’t take down Knox soon, he’ll permanently attach himself to Eva in a binding ritual.

​Eva and Frost are pretty stoked about their blooming hunting skills, but when they finally meet Raylan's sister, Tess, after a witch doctor hunt in New Orleans, the group dynamic gets rather awkward.

Tess wants to kill Knox straight up dead. As in, drag him up from the bottom of the old mine shaft and use Tess' favorite snake from the Louisiana bayou to finish the job. Eva loves the idea of bonding with Tess and being extra sure Knox will never come back to harm them, but Maggie ain't thrilled at the idea, and Frost is a little distracted by her new cowboy boy-toy.

When Tess gets attacked by the Despairity, Eva and Raylan race back to New Orleans to help. Maggie isn't answering her phone, and what Tess shows Eva in her secret basement is something no one expects, and it's gonna test everyone's relationships.

The hunters have to decide where their loyalties lie: family, friends, or love.

​Possession. It was never supposed to happen.
Unwilling to stand around and wait while Eva's been taken over by one of the Despairity, Frost works tirelessly with Beau and Leo to figure out how to free her sister. Leo shows Frost memories of The Before, and Beau admits to a chilling connection with the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Eva, though, can't believe she's stuck with one of these spider wenches, Alora, inside of her. Sure, Eva's gotten pretty fast, and her reflexes have never been better, but feasting on people's souls? That was never supposed to be on the bucket list at all.

When Alora reveals her sinister plan—to build an unconquerable army of Blurred Ones by placing them inside the perfect hosts—the girls and their friends must fight to protect not just Bloodcreek, but all the world.

For fans of the CW's Supernatural, sisterly bonds, and twists on mythology that haven't been done before

MARY GRAY
Mary Gray balances dark and twisty plots with faith-based messages. Some of her best ideas come when she's lurking in the woods, experimenting with frightening foods, or pushing her kids on the tire swing. She is the author of several fiction and nonfiction works and the co-owner of Monster Ivy Publishing.

To see more of what Monster Ivy has to offer, visit monsterivy.com.

CAMMIE LARSEN
Hi! I love all things creative, especially something that tells a fantastic story. I'm doing what I can do bring more beauty, fun, and insight to the world while building my own life's story. My goal is to someday be the little old lady who's done a little of everything.
For now, that includes running this publishing gambit, doing this and that at my local church, and hanging out near and far with my hubs, kid, and two giant dogs.
I'm a co-owner of Monster Ivy Publishing, editor, graphic designer, contributor to THE FAITHFUL CREATIVE magazine and co-author of the SISTERS OF BLOODCREEK trilogy.

If you follow my blog or FB page then you know I LOVE Kelly Martin and stalk her hard core! She doesn't know it yet, but I am going to be her best bud!  Without evening knowing it Kelly and her publisher, Monster Ivy Publishing, have checked off a few items on my Bucket List.

• Beta Read for Kelly Martin - I did so with Never Kiss the Dead
• Have a review quoted in a Kelly Martin book - There is on in What Rachel Did (Thank you MIP)
• Meet and become buddies with Kelly Martin - currently in progress!
• Interview Kelly Martin - Happening TONIGHT at 7:30PM

Seriously y'all...Kelly is my unicorn. I may pass out during my FB LIVE.  ~ Lynn 

​Kelly Martin lives in a possibly haunted house in a small southern town. While she'd like to say paranormal things have only happened to her at her home, it would be a lie...

She is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and an international #1 best selling author in horror, paranormal, contemporary, historical, young adult, and mysteries. All of Kelly's books have one thing in common-- imagine the real world is tilted slightly on its side. You don't really know what's going on, what's missing, but there is a tilt, a hum you can barely hear, telling you that something is off.

Email Kelly Martin at kelly @kellymartinbooks.com (no spaces). Visit her website at www.kellymartinbooks.com

Eric Asher is the BEST WRITER EVER! His world building and character development is superb.  The Vesik Series was no where near my radar but a friend recommended I give it a shot. So, I snagged  a boxset of the first 3 from Audible.

This is where my love affair with audiobooks started.  I flew through the 29 hours of audio. The narrator William Dufris painted such a vivid picture and I could not get enough of the series and the characters.  This went on for months until I completed all the audio books available at that time.  That brings me to today's review of The Book of the Claw (#10 in the Vesik Series).  The series now has a new narrator, (Dufris had to bow out due to health issue but I wish him  the best,) Erin Moon. Y'all...the books and the narration just keep getting better!  I don't read the books. I wait for the audiobooks because I love the narrators work so much.
Finger crossed author Eric Asher will be going me for #FangirlThursday in late Sping! ~ Lynn

A pack torn. An enemy revealed. The werewolves face a long-forgotten foe.

As they battle vampires in Kansas City, Hugh and the wolves learn the war in Falias has gone horribly wrong. The Mad King stole humanity’s most dangerous weapons. Now, Damian Vesik, necromancer and ally of the River Pack, has been lost to the abyss. Vicky longs to save Damian, to return the favor he once granted her, but soon discovers the only chance to rescue him means facing a gauntlet of ancient trials.
​
Nudd’s madness has unleashed nightmarish new obstacles, and it seems the wolves have met their match. Vicky, Hugh, and the pack must protect Kansas City from the rising darkness, even as Nudd’s will threatens to crumble the city itself.

I am absolutely blown away by the world building in this series. Eric Asher is a freaking genius!

The Book of the Claw is an adrenaline pumping thrill ride. I highly recommend checking the series out on Audible as the narrators are phenomenal. The story leaps to life from the crashing of the swords to the heat of the dragon's fire. 

Performance 5 Stars
Story 5 Stars
​Overall 5 Stars

​Eric is a former bookseller, cellist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.

FACEBOOK/WEBSITE 

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Join me for #FangirlThursdays LIVE on 2 Girls & A Book on Facebook. I interview my favorite authors and chat all about books!  




​#FangirlThursday Schedule
(Chats are held at 7:30 PM Eastern)
3/5 Kelly Martin, Author ~ What Rachel Did
3/12 Mary Gray - Author page & Cammie Larsen ~ Sisters of Bloodcreek Trilogy
3/26 Melanie Gilbert Author ~ Poison, Deal
4/9 Jordan Thompson ~ What Lurks Below (Debut Novel)