New Release - The Pygmalion Hypnotist

Blurb/Synopsis

Hypnotist, Darren Braid, is getting ready to launch a new line of erotic hypnosis CDs. A potential publicist suggests that he collaborate with her other clients, wannabe film producer Scott Sunderland and his discovery Liza Hill. Her plan calls for Darren to hypnotize Liza and transform her into a dominatrix. Sunderland will film the transformation and produce a series of BDSM videos.

But shortly after Darren begins hypnotizing the starlet, repressed memories of her childhood abduction begin to surface. Investigating further, he and FBI Agent, Kristen Parker, discover that Liza had been stolen as a child and sold to a ring of pedophiles. While they help Liza deal with her trauma and build her self-esteem, they discover she can identify one of the FBI's most wanted, a sadist who mentors pedophiles in hidden regions of the internet. The FBI has never identified this man offline, but finding him is their only hope of tracing Liza's origin. To find her birth mother, Darren and Kristen must help Liza control her fear and face the man who tortured her as a child. 

Excerpt

"Braid!" Kristen Parker pounded on his apartment door. She couldn't hear anything inside, but it was almost 10 pm. He had to be in there. "Braid, I'm not going away. Open this door."

After pounding for several minutes, Kristen finally heard the bolt being drawn. She didn't wait for him to open the door. As soon as it was unlocked, she pushed her way inside.

She caught a glimpse Latoya Douglas standing by the sofa before reeling on the hypnotist. "You should have told me."

"Told you what?"

"Liza. You should have told me she's being abused."

"I didn't see anyone abuse her, did you?"

"No, of course not. But he is, and you know it. Or you wouldn't have told me to watch her. Sunderland has got her so messed up, she afraid to even form an opinion, let alone express one."

"Maybe, but her problems could just as well be the result of past abuse. Unless we see it, or she complains, there's no way to know for sure.

Kristen gaped at him until she remembered that he had been a psychology professor as well as a hypnotist. He might actually know what he was talking about.

Kristen fumed as she turned away. But Latoya's presence brought her up short. The slender black woman wasn't moving. She stood completely still. She wore high heels and a black lace corset, which left her shoulders complete bare. The lace was cut high over her thighs, and dipped low in front of her breasts. 

Hypnotized and frozen, Latoya was a statue of elegant sensuality.

Kristen had experimented a bit with other women, but always preferred men. She had the sudden feeling that Latoya Douglas could change that. She swallowed hard as she tore her eyes away.

"We have to do something."

"Tell me what happened. First, do you want something to drink?"

Kristen nodded. "Beer, if you have it." She sat down on the sofa and tried to avoid looking at the sexy statue two feet away.

Darren went to the kitchen and came out with an open bottle of beer. Kristen took a large swig then related her experience with the starlet.

"I was afraid of that. Her self-esteem is so badly damaged that she's afraid to make even small decisions. It makes her totally dependent on Sunderland."

"We have to get her out of there."

"If you take her away from him now, she'll become dependent on you. She has to decide to leave. And before she can do that, she has to learn to make decisions and trust them.

"What can we do?"

"Exactly what we are doing. I'm hypnotizing her, and you're being her friend. Together, we encourage her to start eating properly and taking care of her health. Then we encourage her to start observing and thinking analytically. It's important to get her to start exercising her own judgement; and then to start trusting her judgement. Start with other actors, then her own acting, then other aspects of her life.

"Eventually, hopefully, she'll be able to see that she can make her life better by relying on her own judgement."

Kristen eyed Latoya's frozen body. "Like your uh, boy-toy here."

"Believe it or not, Latoya is one of the most confident and capable women I've ever met. Her self confidence lets her enjoy being controlled in the bedroom, and taking control in the boardroom."

Darren got a mischievous gleam in his eye. "Her self confidence even enables us to enjoy an occasional threesome." He was obviously teasing. But seeing this stunning black woman like this, completely vulnerable, completely available, Kristen felt tempted; too tempted.

Buy Links

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HEXFKQK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00HEXFKQK&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelt-20

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00HEXFKQK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00HEXFKQK&linkCode=as2&tag=lucyfelthouse-21

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/388477?ref=cw1985

My Bio

Before writing my first novel, I worked as a technical writer for 17 years. I hold a BS in Engineering and an MS in Technical Communication.

Since 2000, I've been pioneering the art of hyperempiria (creating sensory experience through hypnotic suggestion.)  This is accomplished by integrating hypnotic language patterns, positive affirmations and NLP into the narrative of an audio story. One of my hypnosis programs, The Ultimate Kiss, was nominated for an "O" Award for Outstanding Innovation.

The Pygmalion Hypnotist is my second novel. 

Review - Louisiana Fever by D.J. Donaldson

 

“Louisiana Fever” is the second offering by author D.J. Donaldson.  Returning are chief medical examiner Andy Broussard and Dr. Kit Franklyn, criminal psychologist.  Both are top-notch detectives as well as experts in their respective fields.  Set in New Orleans, anyone who has visited the city on more than one occasion will recognize several of the settings of the story.  I thought that was interesting and added realisms to the story. 
 
There are two mysteries in one.  First, there is a rash of deaths taking place in New Orleans.  At first glance, it seems the people are dying of heart attacks but soon it’s discovered that an Ebola type virus has been unleashed  One of the victims is a stranger who sent roses to Kit.  When she arrived to unknowingly meet him, he dies before she can find out who he is and what his connection is to her.  While searching for him, Kit is kidnapped and this provides the second mystery within the story.

D.J. Donaldson has constructed an excellent storyline and the attention to detail is great.  One can really tell that he understands the world he describes in the novel.  It is intense and definitely a page-turner. 

 

Buy Links

 

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/15wIN4l

B&N:  http://bit.ly/1abExIw

Astor+Blue:   http://bit.ly/11CS4c0

 

Press Release

Portly & Proud CSI Catches Louisiana Fever

Threat of Outbreak Drives Latest in Southern Suspense Series

 

“D.J. Donaldson is superb at spinning medical fact into gripping suspense.  With his in-depth knowledge of science and medicine, he is one of very few authors who can write with convincing authority.”

 

--Tess Gerritsen, NY Times best-selling author of the Rizzoli & Isles novels

 

Andy Broussard, the “Plump and Proud” New Orleans medical examiner, obviously loves food.  Less apparent to the casual observer is his hatred of murderers. Together with his gorgeous sidekick, psychologist Kit Franklyn, Broussard forms a powerful, although improbable, mystery solving duo.

 

Astor + Blue Editions is proud to release Louisiana Fever (ISBN: 978-1-938231-33-9; Fiction / Mystery & Suspense; $5.99 E-Book) the latest Broussard mystery by DJ Donaldson.

When Kit goes to meet an anonymous stranger—who’s been sending her roses—the man drops dead at her feet before she could even get his name. Game on.

Andy Broussard soon learns that the man carried a lethal pathogen similar to the deadly “Ebola”—a highly contagious virus, feared worldwide for killing its victims (grotesquely) in a matter of days. When another body turns up with the same bug, widespread panic becomes imminent. The danger is even more acute, because the carrier is mobile. The man knows he’s a walking weapon and… he’s targeting Broussard.

And when Kit Franklyn investigates her mystery suitor further, she runs afoul of a cold- blooded killer, every bit as deadly as the man searching for her partner.

________________________________________________________________________________

Louisiana Fever is written in Donaldson’s unique style:  A hard-hitting, punchy, action-packed prose that’s dripping with a folksy, decidedly southern sense of irony.  Mix in Donaldson’s brilliant first-hand knowledge of forensics, along with the sultry flavor of New Orleans, and readers will be fully satisfied with this irresistibly delectable mystery.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

D.J. Donaldson is a retired professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology.  His entire academic career was spent at the University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, where he published dozens of papers on wound-healing and where he taught microscopic anatomy to thousands of medical and dental students.

He is also the author of seven published forensic mysteries and five medical thrillers. He lives in Memphis, Tennessee with his wife and two West Highland terriers. In the spring of most years he simply cannot stop buying new flowers and other plants for the couple’s prized backyard garden.

 

New Review - Quick Kill by Patricia McCallum

"Quick Kill" is the latest release by author Patricia McCallum and I must say it was interesting.  I have to admit, there were several pros and cons about the book but overall, it was an enjoyable read.  First, the pros:

• This was a very interesting story.  Random women are being brutally killed in Toronto and the police are racing to find the connection between them and stop the killer.  Without witnesses or clues, the cops are working extra hard to stop him before he strikes again.
• There are interesting characters.  The main character, Sydney Granger, is a tiny but feisty detective, dedicated to her job and determined to find this killer.  Her partner, Mike, is big and brawny and equally dedicated.  Their relationship is filled with sexual banter, good natured ribbing and actual friendship.  The glimpses into their personal lives makes them more real and enjoyable as characters.  I'd really be interested in seeing more of them in future books. 
• Ms. McCallum really allowed you to see everything from the prospective of the victim.  The reader feels like they have stepped into the victims shoes, seeing their life up until the moment of their death.  Please note:  The deaths are graphic but in this type of novel it's to be expected.
• Minor characters are also well developed.  Other police officers are interesting and allow you to see the dynamics of working in a major city's police department.  There are interesting personalities and again, they would be interesting to see in future books.

Now for the cons:

• There could have been more plot development.  The premise of the story was very intriguing but it seemed to only remain surface level.  Most of the story was wrapped up at the end after they caught the killer but it would have been nice to see some of this build up as the story progress.  Instead, it felt like a hasty addition.
• It would have been nice to see more actual detective work.  There were crime scene visits, precinct meetings and talking with members of the victims families but not much more.  With a police procedural, there's always the expectation of seeing more of the inner workings of the detectives and this was lacking in the novel.

Overall, it was a good read.  I'm interested in seeing more from this series.  The characters alone makes it worthwhile to continue the series and in spite of the flaws, I think any one who is looking for an quick, fairly enjoyable read will like this one!

New Review - Curb Chek by Zach Fortier

This was an entertaining look at the life of a street cop.  Nothing is sugarcoated.  Instead, the author allows the readers to see all the nuts and bolts of working the beat.  Zach Fortier pulls no punches as he exposed the daily life of a police officer.  You can't help but laugh at some parts but there were also brutal and heartbreaking scenes that brought on the tears.  This book was a brutally honest and refreshing look into a world that is often hidden from ordinary citizens

Zach Fortier not only deals with the crime faced on the streets but also to in-fighting and jealousy that exists within the police department.  Fortier also exposes the gritty politics that permeates every level of law enforcement.  It was eyeopening and, at times, infuriating.

This book is a highly recommended read not only for someone who is contemplating the law enforcement field but also for anyone who wants to read a REAL portrayal of law enforcement.

New Review - The Ninth District by Douglas Dorow

The Ninth District by Douglas Dorow is an outstanding crime thriller.  Starting with the main character, FBI Special Agent Jack Miller, we are treated to a cast of well-developed and real-life characters.  Agent Miller is a star in the FBI, chosen to mentor a new agent with a high-profile case.  Jack's personal life, on the other hand, is unraveling.  His wife, tired of taking the backseat to his job, has decided to leave with the kids.  Jack wants nothing more than to solve this case quickly and convince his wife to come home.  The "Governor", as the criminal is known in the press, is cunning and ruthless.  He has no qualms about doing whatever it takes to achieve his goals, even if that means eliminating the agents who are hot on his trail.  He is a worthy adversary for the seasoned agent and provides so much depth to the story.

Dorow does an excellent job of drawing the reader into the world of both the agents and the criminal.  As the reader, you can't help but want Jack's family reunited and for him to catch this criminal.  All the characters, from the rookie Ross Fruen, the flirty news reporter and the "Geek Squad" Jack uses to deal with the techie issues, are well written and are integral parts of the story.  Everyone was well developed and you never felt any character served as a "filler".

If you are a fan of procedurals and thrillers, this is definitely the book for you.  My only issue with the novel is the ending was rather abrupt.  Since there is going to be a second book, I'm excited to see what is going on in the world of FBI Special Agent Jack Miller and if the "Governor" is truly gone.