Saturday, October 31, 2020

The Dead At Heart by @SusanneLeist is a Scary Reads for Halloween #paranormal #halloween #giveaway


Title: The Dead At Heart

Author: Susanne Leist

Genre: Paranormal Suspense

Book Blurb:

As vampires descend on Oasis, Florida, Shana turns to Sheriff Sam, the human-vampire who had broken her heart. Their journey takes them from Florida’s swamplands to Old Quebec, where Chateau Frontenac’s boardwalk explodes before their eyes. Not knowing which vampires to trust, Shana and her friends are forced to choose a side in their fight to save humanity from the evil threat.

Excerpt:

Chapter Five

Monday 12:30 a.m.

Howls filled the night air. Shana’s eyelids flew open. Moonlight slid through the parted curtains, lighting a rectangular path across the carpet. She squinted into the shadowy darkness. Was someone in the room with her? Shana stared at the black shadow lurking beside her bed. It didn’t move. After a few seconds, she recognized the armchair. Other familiar objects took form. The dresser across the room. The end tables on either side of the bed. With a sigh, Shana sank into the pillows.

A high-pitched howl jolted her to her feet. She dashed to the window. Black shapes darted across the back lawn, keeping low to the ground. A few of them stood on their hind legs and resembled people, but their deep-throated roars didn’t sound human. The moon cast an eerie yellow glow on the circling beasts. Her hands shaking, Shana grasped the windowsill as she stared at the ominous forms moving closer to the house. Shadows separated to form more creatures.

The door to the room banged open. Linda stepped inside, wearing sweats and a jacket, clutching a flashlight. “Shana, are you awake?” The beam swept through the darkness.

“How could I sleep with the howling?” She met Linda in the doorway.

“The power’s disabled. There are no lights.” Linda’s voice quivered. “The guards are searching the grounds.” She pressed a flashlight into Shana’s hand.

Shana whispered, “Animals are creeping across the lawn.” She dug through her dresser drawers for a sweatshirt and pants. “A few even walk upright.” After grabbing a jacket from the closet and digging her feet into white sneakers, she paused. Could the animals spot white sneakers? Shana shrugged; she didn’t have other ones.

When Linda disappeared into the hallway, Shana raced after her. “Where are you going? We’re supposed to stay in our rooms.”

They descended the staircase as eerie howls echoed around them. “I’m staying in the house,” Linda replied as she directed her light across the downstairs’ walls. “I want to check the command center.”

“What command center?”

Linda pointed the beam at Shana’s face. “After your kidnapping, the vamps worked at the kitchen table. They hung maps on the fridge and pictures on the walls.”

After shoving the blinding light from her face, Shana frowned. “Pictures of me?”

The flashlight grasped beneath her chin, Linda replied, “Photos of bloody scenes to keep them interested. Dead bodies. Decapitated heads. You know, the things vampires love.”

She shook her head. “Funny.”

Linda pushed open the kitchen door.

They entered an empty room.

“Now what, Sherlock?” Shana asked.

“I don’t know.”

As the howls echoed louder, Shana jumped. “Are the animals in the house?”

“How can that be?” Linda clutched Shana’s arm. “Where are the guards?”

A black form lunged at them.

She grabbed Linda’s as they raced from the room. The enormous beast blocked their path to the stairs. In the darkness, yellow eyes glared at them. They dodged the multiplying animals and climbed the steps as high-pitched cries resonated through the house. “Hurry.” Dragging Linda behind her, Shana rushed to Linda’s suite and bolted the door behind them.

“I didn’t know the wolves are so huge.” Linda gulped her words between frantic breaths as she leaned against the door. When the animals lunged at the door, Linda jumped back. “If they break through the door,” her voice trembled, “they’ll tear us apart. I thought the vamps could protect us.” She slid against the wall to the floor.

Shana raced to the window. Shadows darted back and forth across the backyard. A few forms lay lifeless on the grass. “Men and wolves are fighting. There’s nowhere for us to run.” Her gaze flew to the door as it cracked from the force of the wolves’ bodies. She spun to Linda. “The wolves have us surrounded. We can’t escape them.”

Linda ran to the window and pointed. “Wait. Is that William?”

A tall figure marched across the lawn. Shana recognized the confident stride as he approached a melee of men and wolves rolling on the grass. At his shout, the animals raised their heads and scampered away. “William chased the wolves away. How did he do that?”

“The wolves might have recognized him as an original.”

Chills raced through Shana’s body as she asked, “Aren’t Gregg and many of his vampires, originals?”

A loud noise made them turn. The door burst open, and the animals slunk into the room, backing them against the window. Growls and snarls melded into a cacophony of horror in Shana’s head. They filled the room, saliva dripping from gaping jaws, moonlight glinting against pointy teeth. Head canted to the side, one appeared taller and broader. It stepped forward on hind legs and watched them through slanted yellow eyes. His peers, the ones standing upright, gathered around him.

Linda cowered beside her. “What do we do?”

“We fight.” Shana’s heart raced as her gaze darted around the room, searching for a weapon.

“They appear almost human.” Linda pointed at the tallest one. “It’s as if he wants to speak to us.”

“Not he. It,” Shana yelled. She needed a weapon—an umbrella. There was one beside her bed. “We’ve faced monsters. We kill or are killed.”

A whistle pierced the silence.

The wolves charged.

Growls faded to silence as Shana spun to Linda.

The wolves vanished, and so had Linda.

Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DZY6LPF

Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dead-at-heart-susanne-leist/1137419755?ean=2940162640943

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-dead-at-heart

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54801699-the-dead-at-heart

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-dead-at-heart-book-three-of-the-dead-game-series-by-susanne-leist

Why is your featured book, a must-read?

No other book offers paranormal, mystery, and suspense in remote or famous locations as The Dead At Heart. My characters leave their peaceful seaside town of Oasis to pursue evil vampires across Florida’s swamps to the quaint locale of Old Quebec. Chateau Frontenac and La Citadelle de Quebec are just two of the unique backdrops for my story.

Giveaway –

Enter to win an e-book bundle of all 32 books featured in the Scary Reads for Halloween Event:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775082

Open Internationally.

Runs October 27 – 31, 2020.

Winner will be drawn on November 3, 2020.

Author Biography:

I have always loved to read. Agatha Christie, Alistair Maclean, Robert Ludlum, and many other authors filled my young imagination with intrigue and mystery. When I wasn’t reading late into the night, the TV shows–Murder She Wrote and Columbo–entertained me with murder and suspense tales. Over the years, my taste in TV expanded to include such shows as Supernatural and The Originals. I searched for paranormal, murder mysteries, but found few at the library or bookstore. So, I wrote one. The Dead Game, Book One of The Dead Game series, brings fantasy and surrealism to the classic murder mystery with dead bodies, suspects, and clues. It offers vampires, vampire derivatives, and a touch of romance to spice the motley mix. The story continues in Book Two, Prey for The Dead, as The Dead vampires use an exclusive club in Disney World to infiltrate the rich and famous. As The Dead grow in power, not even the bright sunshine of Florida can weaken them. Linda and her friends join forces with human vampires–known as hybrids–to defeat the evil threatening to control Oasis. A masquerade ball and a romp through the tunnels beneath the town lead to a showdown in southern Florida’s swamps. The Dead At Heart is Shana’s love story. Will her love for William strengthen, or will Sam lead her on a different path? At Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, Shana and her fearless friends fight for Oasis and their lives. A career in writing has been a big leap for me. Accustomed to the number-crunching field of budgeting and the hectic commodity markets, I left my first career and M.B.A. in Finance behind to pursue my dream. I do not regret my foray into literature for one moment. Fellow authors helped me make my way through the competitive field. I write every day and even tried my hand at poetry. If someone tells you it’s too late in life to try something different, they are wrong. It is never too late to follow your heart.

Social Media Links:

Website http://susbs1000.wixsite.com/susanneleist

Blog https://susanneleist.wordpress.com

Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.com/Susanne-Leist/e/B00F253FE6

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7336492.Susanne_Leist

Twitter https://twitter.com/SusanneLeist

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/susanne.leist.98

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/susanne.leist/

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/susanne-leist

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-leist-1000/

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/susanneleist98/

Thursday, October 29, 2020

RIDING ON A FULL MOON


“My kind of book, I loved it. The twists and turns were so unexpected. When a book can keep me guessing and doesn’t follow the traditional path, I recommend it to all my friends.” Amazon Review

THE DEAD GAME
https://amzn.to/31wJpuN
http://bit.ly/1lFdqNj

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

RIDE WITH ME


There is something not quite right.

Meetings are held at midnight.

Dark shadows creep the street.

You don’t know whom you’ll meet.

Take me from here.

The Dead, I can’t bear.

THE DEAD GAME

http://amzn.to/31wJpuN

Monday, October 26, 2020

A DELIGHTFUL REVIEW!


My Review of The Dead Game by Susanne Leist

  • Published on October 25, 2020

by HM Holten

A Haunted House with a Vengeance

Vampires live disguised in a small town in Florida, mixing with the population. Newcomer Linda opens a bookshop and befriends Shana, who has an esoteric shop. There are young men and a blonde bimbo to go out with – and everything is fine until they get an invitation to a party at End House.

In Ms. Leist’s village, there are several unexpected species. The hybrids, half-human, and half-vampire, are difficult to single out. Then there are two groups of vampires, one of them working to protect humans and hybrids. The other group, the DEAD, wants to take over the world and rid it of human beings. Of course, the humans just want to live normal lives. Also, the village, and especially, End house, is full of illusions, some resembling the scary house in a fairground, except for the fact that they are armed with real predators and flying saws just to mention a few. The horror isn’t absent, but it is accompanied by not a few winks. It was an entertaining read that gave an insight into the antics of humans – let alone the vampires.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-review-dead-game-susanne-leist-hm-holten/?fbclid=IwAR23wgASffW7iG32o1EaVX2UhLhKJMwPvOTPeU91AQy6kWUvGtZ68NomUUU

Sunday, October 25, 2020

LET THE LEAVES FALL


Source: fall-spirit

Let the leaves fall where they may

upon tombstones built to stay.

On these stones, the residents pound

as fall colors litter the ground.

No one is free to leave.

To this earth, they must cleave.

LET THE MAGIC FLOW


Source: night-man.com

Let the colors splatter and merge.

No need to mourn the mess.

Magic flows from the artist’s hand.

Beauty to soothe one’s stress.

A REVIEW TO DIE FOR


 Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Vampire Story

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2020

Amazon Verified Purchase

Author Susanne Leist weaves her magic in a story with all the elements to claim readers as her fan, enthralling them. Good and evil vampires battling for domination in Oasis.

Todd, a hybrid, born of a human and vampire love match, has a particular set of rules to follow. Linda, a girl from New York, has a traditional innocent who is ill prepare for the obstacles before her. Is the happy ending she craves outside of her reality? Early on in the meeting between the two, Linda and Todd, each fanned the embers of possibilities.

Taking a deep breath, she dashed to the boardwalk and banged headfirst into a hard chest.
“Are you okay?” Todd steadied her, his hands grasping her shoulders.
“I saw a shadow.” Linda gulped. “It was nothing.”
“Let me walk you home.”
As Linda strolled beside him to the boardwalk steps leading to the apartments, she glanced at his brooding face. “It’s quieter than usual this evening.”
He took her hand as they descended the staircase. “Next time you work late, call me, and I’ll walk you home.” Her hand tingling from his touch, she nodded.

Author Leist develops this diverse cast of characters and their relationships masterfully. The story is engaging in every way if you are a fantasy fan. After reading The Dead Game, you may find yourself believing that vampires, hybrids, and humans coexist in your own town. Each page builds the story to the non-stop suspense ending that you won’t see coming. Recommended for young adults who adore fascinating stories. I added Book 2 to my reading list.

Amazon Review

Saturday, October 24, 2020

DARK FOE


Demons invade our place.

They snatch tourists for their base.

Who will save us from this dark foe?

I hope it’s not the one I love so.

PREY FOR THE DEAD

https://amzn.to/2YHf3Uz

http://bit.ly/2XCDuD7

Friday, October 23, 2020

TRICK OR TREAT

If vampires at Disney World
didn’t surprise you in Book Two,
then The Dead at Chateau Frontenac
will do the deadly trick.

THE DEAD AT HEART

BOOK THREE OF THE DEAD GAME SERIES

http://amzn.to/3lrQ3KO

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

HEAR THEM ROAR


lesstalkmoreillustration

Tigers pace in their cages,

Waiting to be set free.

Animals fill the basement.

An awful sight to see.

Leashes jangle against bars.

Metal against metal rings loud.

As the gates slowly lift open,

Pointy teeth glisten without sound.

This cannot be happening.

This cannot be so.

No way are there tigers

in the basement below.

THE DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist