Perfect Fix for Vampire Junkies: The Nightlife Moscow #asmsg #vampires

The Nightlife: Moscow has everything vampire-junkies need: sex, blood and violence. Say goodbye to your family and friends. When you start reading The Nightlife: Moscow the rest of your world will seem like a petty distraction. Luedke's whirlwind pacing makes this book impossible to put down. 

The novel starts with Aaron and his crew infiltrating the military compound of an ancient vampire with ties to the Russian mafia. Layered through the intense action in modern-day Moscow is a finely woven alternative magical history giving added richness to the already-intriguing world. 

Just when you think everything is going well for our vampires, Luedke throws in an twist that takes the series in a completely unexpected and glorious direction. The world they live in has never been more interesting. 

I enjoyed Luedke’s first few books. However, everything he’s written from Nightlife: Paris on has been one masterpiece after another.If you haven't read his work yet, do yourself a favor and pick up The Nightlife: Moscow today.

THE GOOD

Every time I think Luedke has written the best scene ever he ups the ante. Each book in the Nightlife Series is better than the last. The first half of this book is on par with early Jim Butcher. 

What Luedke has that Butcher doesn’t is sex. Lots and lots of sex. One of the benefits of ebooks is no one can has to know what your reading. However, you may want to read this in private to avoid any embarrassing blushing and hot flashes. There tintilating erotic dances with horrific and fantastical elements creating a breath-taking story. The whirlwind pacing of this book makes this book impossible to put down.

If you took the sex out you would have a book that falls easily in the top 10% of urban fantasy works. Adding the sex brings the Nightlife: Moscow to a completely different level. There is no voice quite like Luedke on the market today.

Link: Exclusive Spotlight on The Nightlife Moscow by Smutsonian.com

THE BAD

The book ends with our characters in a very interesting space. Now I have to wait god knows how long to see what happens next. So the bad news is I don't have a time machine and I have to wait for the next book. 

SYNOPSIS

Vampires Aaron and Michelle have landed in Moscow, on the prowl. In the company of a misfit pack of mercenary werewolves and Urvashi, a fallen angel, the vampires are forced into the violent, decadent underworld of Russian mafia, drugs and blood slaves.

This time the hunters have become the hunted.

Dmitri, a Russian vampire billionaire, sends his mafia goons to the streets, gunning for the wolf pack. Now they must bring the fight to Dmitri and face the ultimate battle for survival.

Experience the violent, sensual underbelly of Nightlife Moscow, as Aaron and Michelle mix up a wicked blend of sex, chaos, mayhem, and vengeance.

Get your copy of the latest urban fantasy – paranormal suspense novel from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Travis Luedke.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Travis Luedke is a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy, scifi, and paranormal romance, best known for his violently sexy NIGHTLIFE SERIES. Travis can be found catching a third degree sunburn in San Antonio, Texas, while plotting world domination through erotic paranormal badassary.

As the author of the Nightlife Series novels, Travis lives very vicariously through his writings. He invites you to enjoy his macabre flights of fancy, but be warned: The Nightlife Series is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently

THE NIGHTLIFE MOSCOW 
(Book 5 in The Nightlife Series)
$.99 on Amazon: http://smarturl.it/NightlifeMoscow

Add to Goodreads: http://ow.ly/Govgq

Add to Booklikes: http://ow.ly/GoxDW 

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Five Star Review - The Nightlife: San Antonio by Travis Luedke #asmsg #vampires

I'm running out of words to describe just how good Luedke's books are. Every new release is his best book yet.

The Nightlife: San Antonio is a blood-splattered roller coaster of fun. It feels very grounded in reality making the supernatural action elements all-the-more powerful. Adrian is my new favorite everything. Total badass and everything I wish I was... which is probably not something I should actually say in public. Because he's a tad cray-cray.  But I dare you not to cheer for him.

If you haven't read anything by Travis Luedke yet, start with San Antonio. A few chapters in you'll be as hooked as any bloodslave.

P.S. the "rowed the boat ashore" scene is a classic.

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Vampires, Mafia & Mayhem: The Nightlife San Antonio is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently sexy.

All she wanted was to escape the police. All he wanted was to get laid. They both got more than they bargained for.

EMT on call, Adrian Faulkner resuscitates a beautiful woman after a Mexican mafia shootout. He can't explain why he picks her up in the hospital parking lot three days later and then ducks the San Antonio police and the Feds. Well, the hot sex might have something to do with it.

She needed to hide. With no memory of even her name, she didn't know from who. She only knew she wasn't safe.

Adrian soon learns she is much more than a damsel in distress, and he’s stuck with her. It isn't long before the past she cannot remember begins to catch up with them both…

THE NIGHTLIFE SAN ANTONIO is a non-stop thrill ride through the shadowy borderworld of mafia politics and vampires – and sex.

Released Date is June 9th. You can pre-order now on Smashwords.

Add it now to Goodreads

Travis Luedke is a husband, father, and author of Urban Fantasy Thriller, Paranormal Romance, Contemporary Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction, and Sci-fi. He is currently catching a 3rd degree sunburn in San Antonio, Texas, and loving every minute of it.

As the author of the Nightlife Series novels, Travis lives very vicariously through his writings. He invites you to enjoy his macabre flights of fancy, but be warned: The Nightlife Series is violent, sexy, and occasionally violently sexy.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

The Nightlife London - A Must-Read Sex-Filled Adventure with Vampires and Werewolves

I actually finished this book days ago but I couldn't bring myself to make the update on Goodreads. Why? Because this book is so awesome and I'm afraid any review I can give it will not do it justice.

SYNOPSIS (from Amazon)

Vampires Aaron and Michelle prowl the dark, gritty, strip clubs and back alleys of London on the hunt for Michael Jamison, the man who stole Michelle's blood and left her for dead. To assist them, Aaron’s new master, Urvashi, calls in favors from her friends, Russian mercenary werewolves.

Wolves Katya and Ivan, hunters adept at killing rogue vampires, set aside their animosity for Aaron and Michelle to stop Jamison from murdering another woman – he already has one bloodless victim lying in the morgue.

Jamison, ex-special forces, feels his enemies closing in, but he won’t go down without a fight – and like Aaron and Michelle, he also has powerful friends.

Experience the violent, sensual underbelly of Nightlife London, as Aaron and Michelle mix up a wicked blend of sex, chaos, mayhem, and vengeance.

THE GOOD

What you have here is a tight, well-pace adventure that does not slow down for a second. I probably could have read the whole book in one setting but I purposefully spread it out because I wanted to enjoy it. Unless Travis can clone himself, it will be some time before the next installment. I am greedy for these characters. The more Luedke reveals about the characters, the more I want. With each book in the series, the world becomes larger and scarier.

The sex scenes in Nightlife London are off the charts. Stay in doors to read this. You may need to run to the shower to cool down.

Travis Luedke

THE BAD

Not enough. Never enough. I could have read another 100 pages with pleasure. However, Luedke focuses on strengthening the plot and pacing rather than giving us a big book. Which really isn't so bad after all.

CONCLUSION

I am officially in love with this series. Do yourself a favor and get in on the action

Links:
Pick Up The Nightlife London Now
Add The Nightlife London to your Goodreads "To Read" Pile
The Nightlife Official Blog
Travis Luedke on Smashwords


BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo
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Review: The Nightlife: Paris & Why I Literally Screamed at the End

Synopsis (From Amazon)

Vampire master Michelle, and her slave, Aaron Pilan, leave the heartbreak of Vegas for a new start in Paris. 

Aaron’s mistakes in Vegas make him question everything he knows about Michelle, and the prospect of a long, lonely future with her.

Michelle answers his demands by opening her heart and soul to him. 

Their minds intertwine and Aaron relives her dark, gritty tale of survival in the ravages of war-torn Paris under the German occupation.

But they are not alone in Paris. An investigator has shadowed them from Vegas, seeking the unique gifts of Michelle’s blood. 

  
He hunts the vampires, attacking them at their most vulnerable time. Michelle and Aaron face death and worse – separation.

The Good

 Nightlife: Paris is the third book in a series focused on vampires Aaron Pilan and Michelle. It is, by far, the best written of the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books. The third blew my mind.

It grabbed me from the first page. However, makes The Nightlife: Paris so engaging is the reveal of Michelle's back story. Luedke changes Point of View to first person. We see the world through Michelle's eyes as she meets the monster who turns her into a vampire. Her past mixes brutality and hope, violation and eroticism. We see Michelle's humanity and monstrosity. We pity her, cheer for her,and scream at her for bad decisions.

Hyperbole drives me mental. I hate reading reviews like "Best book ever written" and "Just as Good as Tolkien."  I don't believe them. However, I realized halfway through The Nightlife: Paris that this was indeed one of the best written vampire books I've ever read. I have no problem putting it side by side with Interview with a Vampire and I Am Legend. It truly is that good.

See Also: Review of Nightlife: New York and Nightlife: Las Vegas

The Bad

When I finished reading The Nightlife: Paris I LITERALLY screamed. I was having so much fun with the book I couldn't believe it was over. The new book is scheduled for release in September. That's too far away for my liking.

Conclusion

Buy this book and read it. Buy it now.


Links:
Buy The Nightlife: Paris on Amazon.ca or Amazon.com
The Nightlife: Paris on Goodreads
Travis Luedke on Smashwords
The Nightlife: Paris on the Sony Reader Store
The Nightlife: Paris on iTunes
The Nightlife Official Blog

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review of To Catch a Spirit by Carrie Pulkinen

I received this from the Modern Good Reads group on Goodreads. If you're not familiar with it and you love books, you should seriously consider joining. You receive free books in exchange for providing honest and prompt reviews.  Sometimes you get a real stinker. Other times you get a gem like To Catch a Spirit.

Synopsis:

Allison Dupuis is a psychic who runs a small healing clinic out of an antique store in Detroit. She is also terrified of ghosts due to an unfortunate encounter that left her scarred.  While at the home of a Detroit's Most Eligible Bachelor of the Year, Logan Mitchell, she meets a ghost. More importantly, she meets Logan. The two form an immediate connection despite both of them, for different reasons, wanting to avoid commitment. When Logan becomes aware of the increasingly violent spirit haunting his house, he reaches out for help. In the process, Allison and Logan deal with their undeniable attraction to each other.

What I Liked.

I liked many things about this book. First off Logan. At first he appears to be a typical romance hero. He's a rich playboy with a fear of commitment. He also has a heart of gold. He focuses on charities and investing in troubled business to help save jobs. One thing that makes him unique is the excellent manner Pulkinen handles his Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I'm more than a tad OCD myself. Not quite to Logan's level but close. So many authors deal with mental illness incorrectly. Pulkinen does it justice.

I also think this is an excellent example of the Paranormal Romance genre done right. It has just the right about of ghostly/psychic elements and more than enough romance to keep those fans interested too.  This one is not for children as it does have several detailed sex scenes. I have no talent for writing sex scenes. I have great respect for those who can carry the emotional impact of the activity without wallowing in description of body parts.

Carrie Pulkinen

As far as Allison is concerned, she is immediately likable without being overly perfect. She is flawed and makes bad decisions. What I was most impressed by was how fully realized she was. I was completely engrossed in the story by the end of the first chapter.  

On another note, I also enjoyed seeing Detroit portrayed in a positive light. I live right next door to Detroit (in Windsor, Ontario, Canada). Looking at the empty buildings or listening to the reports of violence in the news, it is easy to forget there is a positive side to the city. There is also a lot of money in the state. So kudos to Pulkinen for shining a bright light on the good side of  Detroit.

What I Didn't Like

The last 40 pages.  It honestly feels like the last few chapters were unnecessary for the story. I won't give more away to avoid giving spoilers but there is a section that could very easily have been the end. Then the story took a detour adding, to my mind, unnecessary entanglements. Having said that, those more interested in the romance side of Paranormal Romance may find this section one of their favour sections.

I did like the last chapter. The book has a nice, solid ending that is completely satisfying.

In Conclusion

I recommend this book wholeheartedly. Pulkinen's writing is spot on, the character dynamics are perfect and the plotting/pacing is very tight.  I will definitely put her other books on my "to read" list.

Important Links

To Catch a Spirit on Amazon.ca
To Catch a Spirit on Amazon.com
Here's the Book on Goodreads
Carrie Pulkinen's Official Blog

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review: Nightlife Las Vegas by Travis Luedke

I just finished Nightlife: Las Vegas by Travis Luedke. Wow.

I've read Nightlife: New York twice now. I really enjoyed it even though I'm not normally a huge fan of paranormal romance. Although, now that I think about it, I have read everything all the Kim Harrison books.

Nightlife: Las Vegas takes the next logical projection. Vampires in a new relationship are not likely to take midnight strolls and stare at the moon. There will be sex and blood and a whole bunch of violence. In every way I loved this book more.

The sex is much more intense. Like Book of O, Fifty Shades of Gray intense.

The violence hinted at in Nightlife: New York is also amped up. Now it feels more a True Blood episode directed by Quentin Tarantino.

I was also impressed by the introduction of subtext.  A very clear distinction is made between vampire venom and heroin.  Luedke shows us that addiction to any drug has some very serious consequences. Even if it feels fun at the time, it is going to end badly.

Nightlife: Las Vegas ends well.  Notice I didn't say it has a happy ending. The stakes get raised yet again in a very exciting way.  I look forward to Nightlife: Paris when it is released later this year.

My Review of The Nightlife: New York (where it all begins)
My Review of The Nightlife: Paris (sequel to Nightlife: Las Vegas)

Buy Nightlife: Las Vegas United States (Amazon.com)
Buy Nightlife: Las Vegas Canada (Amazon.ca)
Travis' Blog for the Nightlife Series
The Nightlife Omnibus Books 1-4

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Writing Lessons: It's All about the 1st and 3rd Acts

 
Yesterday, Sunday, I completely slacked off. I stepped away from the novel and the marketing and actually enjoyed the weekend. I watched a few movies on Netflix. The first, 2012 Ice Age is good to watch. It shows you everything NOT to do in any piece of fiction. The concept is ridiculous...and it pretty much goes down hill from there.

Then I had the pleasure to watch Three Inches.  If you've never heard of the movie, here's the teaser trailer:

Synposis

Young man struck by lighting gains limited telekinetic powers. He can move any object a maximum of three inches. He joins a team of superheroes with limited powers.

It was shot as a pilot for Syfy but they chose not to pick it up. The network went with Alphas instead...a series that last only two seasons. Did they make the right choice? Not even close. Alphas was a decent show but had nowhere near the star power of this one.

Why it Works

The 1st Act is hilarious. It's beautifully written: smart, new, great dialogue. Within minutes of meeting a new character we have complete sense of who they are. You don't have to wait for 30 minutes to understand people. Specific decisions, actions, and choices define each character quickly.

Noah Reid as lead character Walter Spackman is instantly likable  His timing and choices as an actor are brilliant   Hopefully we get see much more of him in future projects because he is my new celebrity crush. Sorry Michelle Rodriguez you've been replaced.

And the first act has Andrea Martin in it repeatedly. How can anything with  Andrea Martin not be amazing?

On top of that, a quick glance at the cast shows lots of star power attached.

Why it Didn't Work

The 3rd Act. If this had been left as a movie, the 3rd act would have been more focused, condensed and satisfying  Because it was shot as a pilot, the end is left too open. We get only a hint of where it could go. If I had to guess, someone was forced to make some changes to appease the studio. Those changes took some of the fun out of the movie.

What Writers Can Learn:

I relate every movie I see and every book I read to the act of writing.  I want to know what I can learn from the piece.  How can I make my own work stronger.

Some would say the superhero genre has been done to death. I'd say the same about crime investigation shows. However, strong writing, likable characters and the right spin are more important than a cool concept. I love sharp dialogue and we definitely are reaching Buffy-level dialogue in this movie. Having said that, begin with the end in mind. Projects with a great start can be weakened by a whimpering end.

Here's another post postulating why SyFy did not pick up the show:

The Pilot That Syfy Didn't Want You to See

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

The Spur to Creativity: How Apartment 143 Inspired Me to Make Movies

Sometimes the spur to creativity is anger.

I watched this movie tonight on Netflix tonight: Apartment 143.  The tag line says:

Hired by a family to investigate supernatural activity in their apartment, a paranormal research group find themselves haunted by a malevolent force. Their investigation is derailed as the strange manifestations become gradually more violent

It actually had several good reviews. It also had Rick Gonzalez in it.  I've enjoyed his performance in many movies and TV shows. Since I'm a big horror fan I thought I would give it a try.  No more than 10 minutes in I realized it was a complete piece of junk. 

But I kept watching.

Why? Because the more I watched this piece of crap, the more I realized I could do this.  

I've never made movies before but after seeing this I realized that I could. The writing is atrocious.  

Nearly all the "special effects" are pieces of furniture being moved by strings.  The character motivations are completely flawed: they changed depending on the scene. In one scene, the "Doctor" talks at length about the wonders of science. He saws there is no such thing as the supernatural; that everything can be studies as part of science. In the very next scene he says "sometimes we can't look to science for the answer". Then he brings in a psychic.

Wow.  Did they bother with a script? If so, this one was in complete need of several rewritess.

And then back to my anger.  If the director Carles Torrens has the audacity to film this garbage and release it, why don't I?  The more I watched the movie the more serious I got.  No matter how bad my first movie is it HAS to be better than this.  So often creative people are worried that their work won't be good.  And maybe it won't be.  Maybe it will be absolute drivel. But you won't get better without practice. Maybe the directors' next movie will be better.  I pray it is.

So thank you Apartment 143.  Your complete lack of quality made me want to make movies. 

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Tribulation by Phillip W Simpson - Fast-Paced, Fun Ride

Tribulation (2nd book in the Rapture Trilogy)

The second book in the Rapture series is filled with more action, more drama and more intrigue than the first book.  The stakes have really been raised...which is kind of hard to do considering the first book starts with the end of the world.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Sam is our hero. He's half-demon, half-human ( a Camion). In book one of the series he learns his father is Satan. He was trained by a master swordsman. He wields special swords (katana and wakisashi) designed to kill demons.  He's on a mission to protect the innocents left on earth after the rapture from the hordes of demons trying to drag them to hell.

The book starts full-throttle: a rescue mission to hell. From there the stakes are raised every chapter until, by the end, you are nearly as tired as Sam.

THE GOOD

One of the best things about this book is Sam's new companion, a hell hound named Yeth.  He's a fierce fighter but, more important, a loyal friend (something Sam has been lacking).  You also have non-stop action that is more global now. We move beyond the small corner of the United States and get a glimpse of how bad things are around the world.

The plot is consistent; no gaping holes in logic or believability. The motivations of each character are understandable. And no matter how strong Sam gets he always has limitations; he never becomes a superman.  The book ends with a cliffhanger that makes it impossible to not buy the third book in the series. (due out later this year).

THE BAD

It's very hard for a single character to carry the whole book.  Sam is alone most of the time..which means there is very little dialogue. This leads to long sections of description.  I would have liked Sam to spend more time with someone else, either Yeth or someone else. This would have allowed more of the story to play out in dialogue and break up the large sections of prose.

Having said that, part of the theme in this book is just how alone Sam is. And despite his isolation he is still fighting for the innocents. In fact, he is doing more visible good than the angels...which I think is also part of the message. Maybe it is not the station of our birth that should define us. Maybe it is our actions.

CONCLUSION

I spent many Friday nights with a baptist youth group studying the book of revelations. In all of those meetings no one really focused on what happened AFTER the rapture because everyone seemed to think they'd ascend to heaven. My baptists days are behind me. I haven't read the book of revelations for over 20 years. Still, I remembered enough to realize that Phillip W Simpson knows his stuff.

What he does with his knowledge is the fun part.  Tribulation is a fun read and even stronger than Rapture. If you liked the first in the series, you will love this one.

Phillip W Simpson on Goodreads

Tribulation on Goodreads

Tribulation on Amazon

Tribulation on Kobo

Phillip W Simpson Blog

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Why The Hunger Games Movie Worked

So I finally got around to seeing The Hunger Games. I'd heard so many good things and so many bad things about the movie it kind of slipped to the bottom of my to-do pile.

Now that it's on Netflix here in Canada I had no excuse.

I really liked the movie. It was dark without being depressing. In fact, it has everything I could ever hope for in a movie.

Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence)

As I watched it, my prevailing thought was "How is this YA?" When did YA become so brutal sci-fi? Is it just because the main character is young? The subject matter is just as dark as 1984; actually, probably more so. The only difference was they toned down sex talk and offered a little bit of hope. Like Donald Sutherland's character (President Snow) says hope is a powerful thing.

Katniss (played by the amazing Jennifer Lawrence) is a great hero-figure. She is strong but never ruthless. Confident but never arrogant. And she fights for the underdog. On top of that, bows are pretty flippin' cool.

Katniss and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson)

Peeta (played by Josh Hutcherson) is completely dreamy. I'm sure teenage girls everywhere pined for him. He's strong without realizing how strong he is: this is another trait we need to see in our heroes. Nice to see the princess rescuing the prince for one too.

So what did I learn as a writer?

No matter how much action you throw into a story, what will stay with the audience is the characters. Make them love your characters and the story will be a success.

Nothing makes you route for a character more than adversity and failure followed by success and hope.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review - The Nightlife: New York

Damn you Travis Luedke. Thanks to you I did not sleep tonight.

I woke up at 1:00 and settled into the last half of The Nightlife: New York. It was so much fun I could not stop. And now it`s 4:41. I`m debating getting The Nightlife: Las Vegas or heading to bed.

SUMMARY

A young man, Aaron, meets a sexy vampire named Michelle. After Aaron is mortally wounded Michelle turns him into a vampire to save his life. Hijinks ensue.

REVIEW

The Nightlife: New York is a very solid, fun vampire novel. This is not the scary vampire type of David Wellington nor do these vampires sparkle. What they do is fulfil every fantasy you`ve ever had about wanting to be a vampire. And who hasn`t wanted to be a vampire at some point.

The sex scenes are super hot. You`ll probably need a cold shower or someone to help you work off tension. That`s how good they are. There is also a superhero origin element to add to the fun. The climaxes (no pun intended) of the story also hint at how brutal and violent the vampires can be.

There is also a moment where I had a vampire epiphany. Everyone knows vampires are cool; this book made me realize why they are cool.

At the beginning of Chapter 15 Aaron states:

There is then a few paragraphs where, intended by the author or not, I got very existential. People love vampires because they are not stuck in this rat-race of a life we all seem trapped in. As apex-predators they are, literally, above it all. This type of vampire novel speaks to the part of us that wants to be free, to explore the things we are not supposed to.

My only quibble about the novel is the French.  It sounds like phrases plugged into Google Translate. I tried to rationalize that Michelle was speaking an older form of French because she is over 80 years old. Still, I was taught Parisian French and I speak a bastardized Quebecois French. To my ears, the intermittent phrases Michelle uses do not feel authentic. Having said that, if you don't speak French you won't notice anything amiss.

CONCLUSION

If you like sexy vampires (or if you like sex or vampires) you will enjoy this book. I'm definitely looking forward to their next adventure.

Review for Nightlife: Las Vegas (the sequel)

Info on Travis Luedke

Travis Luedke

Goodreads:                       The Nightlife: New York
Twitter:                             @TWLuedke.
Get the book:                    Nightlife: New York on Amazon.ca OR Nightlife: New York on Amazon.com
Get the whole Box Sets: The Nightlife Series Omnibus Books 1-4

Nightlife: 

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review - Skyfall (A Lesson for Writers)

 

I liked Skyfall. Really liked it. Mostly.

 

The action sequences are stunning and as much fun as you expect from a James Bond movie.  The actors perform with excellence. Daniel Craig delivers a complex, fully realized character and not just an archetype. His Bond has a very real-world focus making the movie more believable. Judi Dench is an amazing pitbull, a woman willing to make the tough calls without sacrificing her humanity. In many ways, this is M’s movie as much as it is Bond’s. There are even rumors she may get an Academy Award nomination for her performance

There is even an attempt at symbolism and subtext: the struggle between the old guard and the new guard. So I enjoyed the writing too….for the most part.

My biggest problem with the movie was the villain. Javier Bardem does an excellent job as an actor so I can’t put the blame on him. The weak link here is motivation. Without spoiling anything you couldn’t figure out from a plot synopsis, Bardem’s character (Silva) has a grudge against M. I’ll let you watch the movie to find out why.  I can see why he wants her dead. It’s just not believable that he would spend the amount of time and resources shown in the movie to kill her.

It doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t feel real. Which means the writers didn’t do their job properly.

I’m not saying we need a Dr. Evil type villain for the movie. World domination is completely unrealistic. And boring. But he could have killed M or made her suffer in far more effective ways than he does in the movie. Seriously, if he is the type of man he is purported to be, there is no way he would go through all this trouble just to get to M.

Dame Judi Dench as M

There is a saying: a hero is only as good as his villain. Craig is my favourite Bond. I know that will immediately get me dozens of haters but it’s the truth. However, Silva is the weakest of the villains of the recent movies because his motivation so unclear.

So where’s the lesson for writers: do not write the villains as if they are the bad guy. Remember that every person is the hero in their own story.  Make the villain's journey as believable as the hero’s journey. And if you want them to be seen as scary, actually have them DO scary things. Don’t just talk about how scary they are. The scariest thing Silva does is shoot someone who has betrayed him. This does not make him the scariest man in the world. It makes him a thug. 

Lesson: Up the game for your villains and give them believable motivation

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
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Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review - Dead of Eve by Pam Godwin

To say I was shocked by this book is an understatement. I followed Pam Godwin on Twitter because I saw she was a fellow writer. And it just so happened her book was coming out. How could I not read it?

I was unprepared for how good it was.

At her worst moments in the book, Godwin writes with the detail and energy of Richard Laymon. In her best moments she is something more than that: original, vibrant and completely engrossing. This is not another Buffy Summers clone. Eve is a fresh and, like every one else in the book, I fell in love with her.

Synposis:

It's the end of the world as we know it. Because I bought this book blind, not even reading the description, I expected zombies. Instead we have something much more fun and original: human-aphid hybrids created through and act of biological warfare. Our protagonist is a woman named Eve who had the good sense to marry a man who taught her to fight, to shoot guns and throw knives. (For the record, this sounds exactly like my father). She is the perfect person to survive the apocalypse...except she has been emotionally crushed. At the beginning of the book she has suffered a loss that could destroy anyone. Yet, as the story progresses, she quickly overcomes her emotional trauma to become an amazing strong character.

Let me back up for a second. I'm not a fan of Superman-like characters. You know the ones I mean, the nearly invincible ones without any character flaws. That is not Eve. Her strength is completely believable and she has some serious flaws. She also shows incredible vulnerability which makes her moments of strength all the more rewarding.

A word of warning, this is an adult book. There is sex. A lot of sex. Maybe even too much sex (which I don't think a man has ever said before). There is also incredibly realistic violence which never strays into the gratuitous. So think twice before letting your kids read it.

Conclusion:

Do yourself a favor. Stop what you are doing and buy this book. Read it. Do it now. I am very much looking forward to the sequel.

Here is a link to the book on Amazon: Dead of Eve

Here is a link to Pam Godwin's blog: PamGodwin.com

Pam Godwin

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review - Silent Hill: Revelation

Silent Hill: Revelation is a beautiful movie. The set design, the wardrobe, the effects, the makeup everything about this movie is absolutely stunning. Except for the writing and the acting.

I know, I know. Those last things are kind of important. One might say crucial. Because they are, unfortunately, pretty terrible, a movie that could have been very successful turns out to be...less so.

I really enjoyed the movie. However, of the people I went with, I was the only one that did. I rolled my eyes at how horrible Sean Bean was and I knew the film was troubled. Sean Bean is amazing, normally. But you can only do so much if the lines on the page are horrible. Unnecessary and contradictory back story and painfully pretentious moments show writers what NOT to do.

Still, I believe it's worth watching. I was constantly in awe of how visually stunning the movie was while also managing to create incredibly icky and creepy moments.

Unfortunately, Silent Hill Revelation would have been a much better movie if it was silent.

 Silent Hill: IMDB

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review - Rapture by Phillip W. Simpson

I bought this book because it was being reviewed by a Goodreads group I belong to (Apocalypse Whenever). The subject matter made me hesitant. I am not a Christian now but I spent several years with a fundamentalist Baptist church. Every Friday night we would eat popcorn and discuss the Rapture. I know the subject matter well and I wasn’t exactly eager to retread ground in fictional format.

But then something happened. I started to really enjoy this book. It has the same sense of mythology, magic and adventure as the Percy Jackson books. The only difference was the mythology it focuses on. The first few chapters for me were a little rough but, in fairness, that was mostly likely because of the mental block I had with the subject matter. Once I relaxed and pushed through my personal biases the book became highly enjoyable.

I didn’t finish the book in time to discuss it in the group. Still, I was not able to just leave the book alone. I had to finish it.

The lead character, Sam, is a likeable outsider. The action and the dialogue are crisp and fun. It has everything you need in an adventure book. If you are not a Christian or know nothing about the Rapture, don’t worry. You do not need to be a believer to enjoy this book.

I will definitely read the second book in the series, Tribulation, as soon as time permits.

For more information on the book and the series, visit this website: www.rapturetrilogy.com

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo

Review - Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas is a masterpiece.

I could ramble on all day about how much I loved this movie. It has everything: love, comedy, action, romance, mystery, drama, tension, horror and pure joy. Cloud Atlas will be written about and discussed for years even if it doesn’t do great business at the box office. Remember, many movies now considered to be masterpieces (e.g. Brazil, The Princess Bride, etc.) did not do well initially at the box office.

Then there is the acting.  Tom Hanks has never shown this much range and emotion. That includes the movies for which he’s won Oscars. This is easily his best performance. Halle Berry and Jim Broadbent are also unbelievably good. And Hugo Weaving…speechless. I’ve always been a fan; however, seeing him play so many roles in the same movie shows you the extent of his talent. Doona Bae shows fragility, strength and heartbreaking beauty. Hell, even Hugh Grant shows substance and depth.

As a writer, what moved me the most about Cloud Atlas was the writing and the pacing.  It is fast, each scene like a phrase in a symphony. Within the first few minutes, one character, a writer, admits that flash-forwards and flashbacks can be jarring but asks the audience to indulge him. The reason will soon be apparent. 

A word of caution: if you struggled to understand Inception, this movie will probably confuse the heck out of you. Should it have been dumbed down? Anyone that says yes should be smacked in the head and sent back to watch more Kardashians.  We should praise Cloud Atlas and everyone involved with it for expecting the audience to be intelligent.

One of my favourite scenes talks about how creating art is similar to St. George battling the dragon: sometimes you slay the dragon, sometimes the dragon slays you. And even if you create the most beautiful masterpiece in history that does not guarantee that the audience will ever hear it. But still you create.

It is written as a series of six stories woven together as tonal variations are merged in a symphony. The pacing is pure music. Six stories all happening at the same time implying that time is just an illusion. All stories are happening at the same time. There is no past, no future, only now. At the same time it shows using subtext how the karma of past events and the ties we have with others shapes our future. When characters die there is a sense of beauty and tragedy and also joy because you know they are going to live again in another life.

And here’s my problem. This movie was a spiritual experience for me. It affirms the importance of every single action, every single choice. There are no small people , no small relationships. I’ve felt the kind of instantaneous love these characters feel. That moment you first see someone and immediately a part of your soul remembers everything you’ve ever shared. That instantaneous click that makes you want to throw away everything you’ve ever known about your life and move in a different direction. It is indescribably powerful, like suddenly the voice of god is whispering in your ear: pay attention.

This is the sort of movie that makes me wish I was a better writer. I feel like Salieri watching Mozart in the movie Amadeus. I am moved at once by the genius of the story telling. I realize my inferiority of my talent while also thanking the gods that there is so much wonder in the world.

BOOKS BY M JOSEPH MURPHY:

Amazon: M Joseph Murphy on Amazon: Paperback and ebook
Smashwords: M Joseph Murphy Author Page on Smashwords
Kobo: M Joseph Murphy Books on Kobo