Rebecca Hardwick wants nothing more than to start a family with her husband. But when a series of tragedies occur, she is left unable to have children by natural means.

Jane Nurelle is in an abusive relationship filled with beatings, drinking and drugs. But when she learns of her pregnancy, she is determined to turn her life around, even if it means resorting to violence.

Through an unlikely series of events, these two women come face-to-face with a notable scientist who has perfected a way for couples to have biologically matched children through the process of human cloning. But his service comes at a price…and the women share more in common than they ever thought possible.

Surrogate is an unforgettable tale of life, love, revenge and maternal instinct.

Published October 14th 2014 by DarkFuse 

 *OLDER READERS WARNING*

This is another title from DarkFuse horror novella releases. It includes the story of two very different women and a suspicious husband. With a touch of science fiction, it makes for an entertaining and quick read.

After being the victim of a random shooting while gardening, Rebecca is left unable to have children. When her therapist mentions surrogacy through cloning, she begins to feel hopeful. Her husband is critical as Rebecca is vulnerable and it’s an expensive procedure, yet they decide to proceed.

When Jane runs away from an abusive relationship, she gets into an accident and wakes up years later in an unusual room. She will do anything to find out what happened to her and how she ended up there.

Their lives end up crossing and the cloning company has some questions to answer. What I enjoyed about this story is the perspective on cloning. It’s always been an interesting topic to me and I enjoyed this take on it. Jane was a very pleasant surprise for me as she is strong, a bit crazy, and I loved her!

Our fashion blogger, Christopher Glabb, has just just started vlogging on YouTube. Check out his channel and learn more about his love of cats and the ghost in his house!

https://youtu.be/mEL-D1ckQIM

YA fantasy author, Melanie Card, has delivered another winner. Ward against Disaster is the third instalment in her Chronicles of a Reluctant Necromancer series, released by Entangled Publishing. With the beautiful but dangerous Celia Carlyle at his side, Ward de’Ath is on the trail of a deadly soul-eater: the vesperetti, Allette. Assisted by a Tracker, Nazarius de’Serra, they are determined to put an end to the ongoing slaughter of innocents. Ward’s fearless allies follow him into Dulthyne, a town ensnared by dark blood magic, in which they face a series of challenging episodes with dark foe.

Throughout the novel, there are a number of fantastic combat scenes that make for a page-turning experience. The action is written convincingly and with great skill – the fights ring true, the desperation feels real, and the characters’ strength of will leaps off the page. A necromancer and physician, Ward makes for an intriguing, altruistic central character, and his magical connection to former assassin, Celia (who is also undead) inspires conflicting feelings in them both and increases the intensity of their respective spiritual and emotional journeys. Nazarius, on the other hand, has some secrets and, possibly, another agenda. Can he be depended upon as a trusted friend?

Card is a masterful world-builder: Dulthyne is a treacherous, sinister place that you’ll feel you’ve actually visited. With its citadels, mysterious passageways, and sparkling witchstone constructions, it heaves with darkness and secrecy. Card has also developed a rich, believable history for both her multi-layered, introspective characters, and the world they inhabit. Secret cults, ancient myths, and old magic combine to create a sense of depth and history.

We are left with a tantalising cliff-hanger which will whet readers’ appetites for the next book. If you’re new to this series, I do recommend starting with the first book, Ward against Death, only because it’s such a satisfying experience to follow Ward and Celia from their beginnings. Ward against Disaster can definitely stand alone as a brilliant, fast-paced, and twist-ridden read. Fans of Kristin Cashore and Sarah J Maas will love this compelling fantasy series and its memorable cast of characters. Recommended.

The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.

When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But then her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, and it’s clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman’s imagination. Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.

To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her? The Devouring is an engrossing tale of terror that will have you wondering: what if your worst fears became your living nightmare?

This book is very much a psychological thriller. You go inside the mind to battle the insecurities and doubts that the Vour has taken control of. It creeps inside you, makes you feel that there is no escape, and builds walls filled with horror that stop you from pushing it out. You then sink into yourself until you’re gone.

There is so much more I want to say, but am also struggling not to say too much. The book has fantastic, easy to relate to, and, at times, funny characters. It also has great pacing and constant fear building throughout the story—you won’t want to put it down.

Simon Holt is a genius when it comes to scaring the pants off you. I was entertained, I will be having nightmares, and I definitely will be picking up the rest of this series immediately. This story left me saying OMG! It made my skin crawl and put my senses into overdrive. There was one page in particular where I even read it with one eye closed and the other barely open. I needed to find out what happened next, but I am so grossed out by they spiders that it gave me shivers. From that page on, I read with voracity. I knew that there was no way I was going to bed until it was finished.

Pick this one up! It’s a young adult novel, but it is creepy; if you are prone to nightmares, you may need to beware. I feel like writing to all major motion pictures and pushing this book. I would love to see it as a movie! I am speechless and all I have to say is WOW!

Belinda interviews Lauren Galley as her latest book KISSING FROGS is released. You can read Bel’s review here.

The theme of your book ‘Kissing Frogs’ is to have self-awareness enough to move on from less than ideal relationships. How did it feel laying your stories out for everyone to see?

The thought of sharing my awkward, embarrassing and sometimes scary dating stories for the world to see gave me a little anxiety but in order to get my message across to young girls, I knew I had to find common ground and refrain from preaching. Instead, I felt my stories would be relatable and my honesty might tug at their hearts enough to question their perspective on dating.

How do you think people can go about breaking the cycle of divorce and failed relationships?

This is really tough. I believe breaking this cycle starts from when we are a child. I grew up in a very loving stable home with parents who believed in being in the moment with their children. I learned the values of kindness, right vs wrong and respect from a very early age. Being surrounded by positive mentors gave me the fundamental building block to make smart choices and not be afraid of knowing my self worth.

Did you read any relationship self-help books while you were dating? If so, which ones made you think more positively?

I loved reading books in high school…still do but wish I had more time. I never came across a popular book about dating; one that was written from a peer’s perspective. This is one of the reasons I felt inspired to write “Kissing Frogs.” I didn’t have a big sister growing up and as we all know, girls love reading about others experiences.

For any guys who are desperate to figure out the ideal first date to keep the pressure off, what would you suggest?

I love this question and I think I can speak for most of the girls out there when I say that a first date should always be without tons of distraction. Movies, busy restaurants and house parties don’t allow us to have great conversations. A lot can be determined on a first date if you ask the right questions and really get to know the person you are considering a relationship with. Keep it simple guys!! A fun picnic at the park, a coffee date, or even something fun like a game of putt putt golf or bowling. First dates can be a little nerve-wracking so do something fun and end with an opportunity to ask those important questions. One last thing guys, never put a girl in a situation that she feels too isolated. Girls want to have fun, talk and feel safe.