Title: The Expected One
Author: Kathleen McGowan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Blurb:
When journalist Maureen Paschal begins the research for a new book, she has no idea that she is stepping into an ancient mystery so secret, so revolutionary, that thousands of people have killed and died for it.Two thousand years ago, Mary Magdalene hid a set of scrolls in the French Pyrenees: the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, her version of the life of Jesus and the events of the New Testament. Protected by supernatural forces, these sacred scrolls could be uncovered only by a special seeker, one who fulfills the ancient prophecy of L'Attendu - the Expected One.As Maureen becomes immersed in the mystical lore of L'Attendu, the eerie prophecy of the Expected One casts a shadow over her life and work, and a long-buried family secret comes to light. Maureen's extraordinary journey takes her from the dusty streets of Jerusalem to the cathedrals of Paris to the rocky foothills of southwest France. To search for the scrolls, she must unravel clues that link history's great artistic masters, dynasties, and scientific minds. Ultimately, she comes face-to-face with Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, and a love triangle that changed the course of history in a deeply moving and powerful new gospel... the greatest story never told.
Review:
Let me start by saying that whether or not you believe some of the less spiritual beliefs on the subject of Mary Magdalene, it should not keep you from reading this book. Kathleen McGowan is an American author. Her novel The Expected One sold over a million copies worldwide and has appeared in over fifty languages. She claims to be a descendant of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. 
This book promised historical references, historical facts, unknown information about Mary Magdalene, and a great fictional story; all of which was delivered as promised. Take a trip through France, Ireland, and Jerusalem. See the sights of the temples, museums, and historical spots we have all known of through time. Open your hearts and your minds to the impossible.
There is a lot of debate over the idea that the content of this book provides. I cannot 100% say that I believe everything that is said in this book. I cannot completely back all of the said "facts" without my own proof that all of it is true. Do I believe that it is possible that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife and not just his Apostle? Well sure. Jesus was the "Son of Man." It is negligent to believe that a man of God would have a woman in his bed without approval of the church and God. There is much more to Jesus Christ than what the Bible tells you. I have always believed that.There are a lot of books out there that tell a similar story but not as in-depth. The Catholic Church has kept a lot of information from people to conserve the church and its position in the world. But it is not to say what all of that information is. We can speculate until we are blue in the face but it will not solve anything. So, please go into this book with an open mind. If not for the story line than at least for the history lesson provided.
This book is very important if any of what is in the book is true. We have all had the beliefs set before us and passed down from generation to generation. This book blows those beliefs apart. It pulls the rug out from underneath us. This book certainly opened my eyes to a far different reality than what I was taught. Don’t get me wrong. I loved the fictional story but the story doesn’t hold a candle to the content if what is being said is really true.
This book appeals to the conspiracy theorists. To the people who look outside the box. No one wants to feel like they are a part of the herd. Everyone is taught to have independent thought and opinion, yet there are so many who believe only one side of the story and won’t even listen to the other half. Those close-minded people are who make organized religion as we know it. Don’t get me wrong. There is a very goof historical fiction story behind all of this, but sometimes I had to put the book down simply because I couldn’t believe what I was reading.
This book has not necessarily changed my mind about the content provided. I have always had my own beliefs but nothing to make them concrete. Until now.
In conclusion, this book was a very deep read. This wasn’t a book I read in one night. I had to do my own research along the way as there were questions I had about some of the content. That made the book fun and informative. Something very hard to find in most books you pick off the shelf. I very much enjoyed the characters and the dialogue and relationship between them. There are a lot of twists and turns and mysteries revealed. Do not sell yourself short and get this book in your hands as quick as possible.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
If you have time to need you have time to read!
 
Blurb:


How do you live with the gut clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name. 

Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on?

Excerpts:


#1-Olivia’s POV


 I’m outside. The moon is high and glowing, there are trees all around. This is a new location. I look around for Mr. Sexy, but I can’t see him anywhere, it’s too dark. Looking around, I realize this place is familiar. Wait…I’m in the field I was day dreaming about earlier. The soft green grass is like silk between my toes. There are yellow daisies everywhere. Trees line the perimeter, it’s almost like I’m in a box. I’m wearing my shorts and cami, but I’m not cold. The wind is blowing just enough to ruffle my hair. “Hello?” I call timidly. Nothing. It’s completely silent out, not even birds are chirping. I glance around and walk forward. My arms are wrapped around the front of me, not for warmth, but for comfort. I know I’m dreaming, but this is still kind of weird. I see a deer to my left, just watching me. She’s beautiful and majestic. She starts to come towards me the moment I wish I could pet her. My hand slowly reaches out and touches her course coat. Huge brown eyes look into mine, there’s no fear.


“You’re beautiful,” I whisper.


“So are you,” a deep voice says from behind me.


I turn violently, scaring the deer off into the trees. Mr. Sexy is standing five feet in front of me. Jeans and a fitted white t-shirt clothe his fit body. 




“You’re here.”


“Of course I am, where else would I be?”


“I thought…well I wasn’t sure if this was our dream or just mine.”


“It’s ours Livvie, it’s ours. Always ours.”


#2-Olivia’s POV


Aiden followed closely behind me. We sat and our hands brushed as we both reached for the same arm rest. I giggled with embarrassment and moved the opposite rest instead. I breathed deeply, trying to relax myself before the theater went dark. I moved my eyes slightly, trying to get a sideways glance at Aiden. His chiseled face looked as stormy and dangerous from his profile as his eyes did from the front.  As I studied him, he seemed to sense me and turned slowly. His eyes seemed to swallow my soul and I felt my hand moving toward his. Just as I was inches from gripping his fingers, J cleared her throat behind me.


                My mind seemed to clear, like the fog lifting from the ground. I turned slowly, almost feeling like my mind and body were not my own anymore. I looked at J, my eyes looking deep into hers but my mind still felt disconnected. I felt like I was screaming inside, like I was trapped in my own body.


“Liv?”


The voice coming from mouth didn’t seem like my own. It sounded distant and disconnected.


“Yeah?”


She reached out grabbed my arm, gripping me tightly and shaking me slightly.


“Liv, what’s wrong?”


I glanced back at Aiden, still looking like a wild storm brewing, and I shrugged my shoulders in confusion.


#3-Scott’s POV


                My reflection was much calmer than my inside. I was an absolute wreck inside, worried and scared about the events that would happen tonight at the dance. Wearing black dress pants and a white buttoned shirt, I looked dressed up enough to blend in if I had to go in the building for any reason. My pockets were loaded with stunning charms that would stun the attacker if I threw them at him. I had a knife in my back pocket, big enough to do damage if needed. I didn’t want this fight to become that violent, but I was prepared to protect Livvie if I had to.


 Mark had similar charms and weapons to guard himself with. I had given them to him after he had left school. Grandma and Sadie were prepared with spells they had memorized. Immobilizing spells, memory erasing spells (for the dance goers), slumber charms, and they had found a few control spells that would be handy if we needed the crowd to leave without putting up a fight. Overall, I felt that we were well prepared. I couldn’t help the sinking feeling in the pit of stomach, a feeling that told me The Crimson Calamitous was much stronger and this may all be for naught.

Also…a sneak peak at my new Romance, Mangled Hearts: Francesca and Cade


"I’d watched her every day since school began. She moved with grace and confidence, yet I could see hurt behind her eyes when she surveyed her surroundings. I didn’t know who would want to hurt a beautiful creature like her, but it angered me. A lot. I watched her from a distance for as long as I could, until the longing in my heart to hear her voice speaking to me was too much.


                I knew it was stupid and reckless to bring myself into her life. I was the worst kind of guy for her, into all the wrong things, but something about her made me want to be…more. The first time I saw her beautiful face was during lunch. She was stuck in a little hole in the wall, her nose deep into a book. Her dark blonde hair fell around her face, and she absent mindedly pushed it behind her ear, not once looking up from her book. People walked around her, came close to stepping on her, completely ignored her…and all I could do was stare. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Two weeks after that, I’d followed her bus to the next bus stop. I prayed to be the one driving her home someday soon. 


                As I approached, she hadn’t moved. She leaned back against the bench, her eyes furiously devouring the book she gripped. After I finally got her attention, my heart had almost stopped when her deep, rich brown eyes looked into mine. Her voice sounded like it came from heaven, her words singing a song to my heart. I laid a hand on her leg, the sparks shooting straight into my soul.


9 years prior-October


                I’d followed her to the bus stop every day since then. The week after our first meeting, I’d gotten the nerve to meet her at her locker. She was bent in, rummaging through her belongings, when I slid up and relaxed behind the door. I heard her groan as a book fell to the floor. I scooped in to pick it up, smiling at her as I handed it over. Her eyes widened as she whispered my name.


                “Francesca.”


                “Cade…you never talk to me in school,” she accused me.


                It stung. It was true. I didn’t want my friends getting the wrong idea or anyone saying things to her about how screwed up I was. It was selfish, and it appeared to hurt her.


                “I’m sorry. I didn’t know if you wanted to…” I admitted, taking her book bag from her.


                “What are you doing?” she questioned, eyeing my hand.


                “Walking you to class?”


                Her eyes stared down, and a small smile curved on her gorgeous face. She peered up at me, her lashes dark and framing her eyes perfectly. My breath caught when she did that. She walked around me, turning a few steps away to make sure I followed.


                “Of course I want to. We’re friends, right?” she said, sauntering off.


                Her voice hummed in my mind, sending smoke signals to my heart. I think I would have followed her anywhere. I’d walk off a cliff if it’s where she led."


Giveaway on the Passionate about books page!


 2 sets of magnets for The White Aura and The Vessel


2 ecopies of The Vessel


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Passionate-About-Books/448000005270761?fref=ts

The White Aura will be on sale for 1.99 May 27-31

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-White-Aura-ebook/dp/B00AFP3AXO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359154642&sr=8-2&keywords=the+white+aura+felicia+tatum

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-aura-felicia-tatum/1113871339?ean=9781481023016

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260220


Author Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/feliciatatumwriter
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sassybrunette55
Website: www.feliciatatum.com



 

 
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Paige Stone lived anything but a normal childhood. Having been raised around an abused women's shelter operated by her parents, Paige was a constant witness to the tragedy and heartache suffered by women at the hands of the men they trusted. Out of refusal to ever allow that to happen to her,... Paige built walls around her heart at a young age. Those walls were only fortified when tragedy struck on her sixth birthday and took from her the only friend and love she knew. Now at 22 years old, and working as a private investigator, Paige is driven by a deep need for strength, independence and a stubborn refusal to accept help from another person. Surrounding herself with her three best friends, Paige never assumed that the autonomy she had worked so hard to build could be challenged.


That was, until Paige met Daemon Pierce.


Mysterious, strong-willed, and breathtakingly beautiful, Daemon seemed to instantly know Paige better than she knew herself. Paige is disgusted by Daemon's reputation as a womanizer, but becomes intrigued when she is unable to discover his background. Paige's curiosity about Daemon proves to be her downfall as she is swept up in his charming and arrogant pursuit to possess her in every possible way.


For the first time in her life, Paige will struggle for control while Daemon slowly dismantles the walls she has built around herself. Only time will tell who will be victorious in their battle of wills as Daemon teaches Paige the weaknesses within herself that she never knew existed. Paige stays one step ahead in her struggle against Daemon's controlling ways, but when tragedy strikes her life a second time, she has to choose; will she put her life in danger, or will she finally accept a helping hand?


***Content Warning - This is a new adult fiction with mature themes. It contains graphic sexual situations, mature language and explicit description of sexual violence.***




Book is to be released June 1st. Raffle to go through June 8th. Do not forget to enter!! The prize is 1 of 5 beautiful necklaces that have a special connection to this book and a $5 Amazon gift card!!


CHECK OUT HER GOODREADS PAGE @ http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17912005-control MAKE SURE TO ADD TO YOUR TBR LIST!!!!




 
Good Afternoon Everyone!! I want everyone to know that "Control" by M.S. Willis is scheduled to be released June 1, 2013. There will be a cover reveal and giveaway starting May 27, 2013 and running through June 8, 2013. Stop by her page and send her a message that you saw this here first!! Thanks so much!!
 
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Ok. So, as everyone knows, Dan Brown's "Inferno" was recently released this month. I have all three of the previous books in the series. I have read "The DaVinci Code" and "Angels & Demons". I have yet to get to "The Lost Symbol". But, I wanted to own "Inferno" because it is the next book in the series. 




Ok. I am trying to contain my excitement....here it goes: 




I went to Barnes & Nobles today to get a cover for my Nook Tablet. I found a pretty good one that has pockets in it. Pretty awesome. So, as I am looking around, I see the "New Arrivals" bookshelf and on it is none other than.....Dan Brown's "Inferno". I debated for a long time (an hour walking around the store) as to whether or not I was going to purchase it. My dilemma comes in because I haven't paid full price for a book in like 15 years. I don't see the point in paying those prices when a little patience and determination will get the book for pennies on the dollar. Anyway, I tell my boys that I can't wait for this book to show up at Half Price Books because I had decided I wasn't going to pay full price for the book. So, after some further searching, we decide to leave.


I get a wild hair up my butt and decide that since HPB is on the way to the interstate, we are going to stop in and see what we can find. A couple of weeks ago I stopped in there and found "The Historian" by Elizabeth Kostova for $7.99. This was a major score for me as I have been looking for this book for quite some time. I happened to look over at their shelf of books to put away and low and behold there it is. I was elated!!


Ok. Back to what I was saying, I look around and find a few books that were on my TBR and decide it is time to go before I buy the whole store out. I am walking to the front and my oldest boy (10) says, "Hey. There are some new books over there." I look over and he is right. They have a whole bookshelf of "Best Sellers" so I decide I am going to check it out. It is on the way to the checkout anyway. I look for a while and don't find anything I want to I go to turn away. As I do....hold on...excitement is rising again...I look up at the top...oh man...there it is!!!!! Dan Brown's "Inferno"!!!! Holy mackerel!! It's only $15!!!

I wouldn't kid you. I about fell over on myself. My oldest looks at me and is like, "Isn't that the one you were looking at at the other books store?" With tears in my eyes I look back at him and say, "Score!" Check out the pic below if you don't believe me..LOL


So needless to say, today is one of those days where anything can happen and I don't think it will ruin my mood. Just WOW.


 
Control by M.S. Willis

This book has yet to be released. The release date is coming soon. This is a review of an ARC.

Excerpt:
Paige Stone lived anything but a normal childhood. Having been raised around an abused women's shelter operated by her parents, Paige was a constant witness to the tragedy and heartache suffered by women at the hands of the men they trusted. Out of refusal to ever allow that to happen to her,... Paige built walls around her heart at a young age. Those walls were only fortified when tragedy struck on her sixth birthday and took from her the only friend and love she knew. Now at 22 years old, and working as a private investigator, Paige is driven by a deep need for strength, independence and a stubborn refusal to accept help from another person. Surrounding herself with her three best friends, Paige never assumed that the autonomy she had worked so hard to build could be challenged.

That was, until Paige met Daemon Pierce.

Mysterious, strong-willed, and breathtakingly beautiful, Daemon seemed to instantly know Paige better than she knew herself. Paige is disgusted by Daemon's reputation as a womanizer, but becomes intrigued when she is unable to discover his background. Paige's curiosity about Daemon proves to be her downfall as she is swept up in his charming and arrogant pursuit to possess her in every possible way.

For the first time in her life, Paige will struggle for control while Daemon slowly dismantles the walls she has built around herself. Only time will tell who will be victorious in their battle of wills as Daemon teaches Paige the weaknesses within herself that she never knew existed. Paige stays one step ahead in her struggle against Daemon's controlling ways, but when tragedy strikes her life a second time, she has to choose; will she put her life in danger, or will she finally accept a helping hand?

***Content Warning - This is a new adult fiction with mature themes. It contains graphic sexual situations, mature language and explicit description of sexual violence.***



Let me be the first to say...WOW!!! There is so much more to this story than what the excerpt is saying. 

The story is about a girl names Paige. She spent her life growing up in a shelter for abused families that her parents run. As a young girl, she experienced loss when her best friend and first love, Buddy, was taken from her. 

Paige works as a professional private investigator. She has two roommates, David and Annie, and an friend "with benefits" names Alex.

The story follows the day-to-day workings between the four of them. I really love David in this. He is the gay best friend I never had in my life and I wish I had a friend like him. Annie suffers from "can't find the right guy because she keeps picking the wrong one" syndrome and I feel sorry for her. But at the same time, it's her own fault as she won't look past her description of "the guy for her". Then there is Alex. he gets sucked into this web because he is in love with Paige and will accept whatever line she releases for him. This sounds really selfish and it is. 

The story goes back and forth between real time and dreams that she has of times with Buddy. I am really glad that the dreams font is italicized so you can tell the difference between the two. The dreams open a little bit into Paige's past so you can get a sneak peak of the relationship between the two. You also get to find out what happened on that fateful day.

I like Paige's character in this story. She is strong and independent. But, I think this is taken too far at times. Where I like her strong personality (which helps later in the story), I think there are times in the book where she goes overboard. For example, when Daemon wants to help her off the speaker. There are times to be strong-willed and there are times when being strong-willed is taken completely out of context. This is one of those times. There are more examples of this as you go through the book. I think her "nature" gets her in a lot of trouble later on and could have been avoided if she would have just accepted the helping hand. But, don't get me wrong, it doesn't take away from the story and doesn't affect my 5 star rating of this book. I do want to say that in the next book, I hope Willis lets off of that some so she can be a more relateable character. 


This book is very descriptive, The scenery and events going on around you are very well written so you think you are actually there. Willis did a very good job of "putting you there" in the way she describes what is going on. 

         
"I had chosen a plain black tank top and my favorite pair of distressed dark blue jeans. At 5'10 and with a             skinny frame, finding a pair of jeans that accented my butt and were long enough was a difficult task. When I found these, I bought two other pairs just like them because they fit so well. I pulled on my black knee high, lace-up riding boots and walked back into my bathroom to dry my hair. I left my long blond locks hanging loose down my back and applied some light mascara and lip gloss. After spritzing on some of my favorite perfume, I felt ready to go."


The rest of the book plays the same way. I like things to be descriptive so that I can really see and feel what is happening. 

I do have to say the book starts very slowly. I want to say the idea was to get to know the characters and what happened in their day to day life but I'm not really sure. It takes a while to get to the plot of the story and when you get there, it falls a little short. I think there was more that could have been done with it and I hope it opens more in the second book. Then again, I wasn't looking at this like a mystery/thriller so I was a little taken back. 

Then there is Daemon. Wait a minute....one more second....OMG!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get a little slice of that heaven every day?!?! I have to say I am in love with his character. Not only is he this masculine, controlling, male hard-on, but he is caring and sweet and so into Paige that you wish you were her. WOW. I'm really intrigued to find out some things about him that you learn throughout the story. And if it is what I think it is...I'm going to cyber-slap him!!! LOL...

All in all, I recommend everyone to read this. When it comes out I will post a link to buy it. You will not be sorry and you will not put it down until you are finished. I can promise you that.

 
Hello everyone. I have created a community page for my blog on FB. See the link below and check it out. Thanks.

https://www.facebook.com/BuriedUnderBooksBlog
 
The Witches of Jericho (Edenwitch #1)
From the Author - I originally envisioned Edenwitch to be a short novel, but it quickly grew into something much larger. It is now a 6-part series, each part roughly the length of a long novella (approximately 50,000 words, or 120 pages paperback).

In The Witches of Jericho, the first installment in the dark fantasy Edenwitch series, the realm of Eden is in the midst of drastic change. Eve and the other witches have been driven from their homes by an ancient breed of demons returned from a mythological past. No one seems to know how or why they have been called forth, but most believe the devil is to blame. Eve scales the mountains beyond Jericho in search of answers, and discovers a device that has the capability to change the world forever. She will be forced to make a decision that will have dire consequences for years to come.

Ten years later her daughter Sophia Falcomye searches for her own answers, a search which will lead her directly into the den of the demons and a date with the Voodoo Witch. Her father Saul – once a Guardian and a protector - must face his own demons, as well as the Wolf who hunts his daughter and the other witches without mercy.

Meanwhile, the new railroad nears completion. It will bring the north and the south together and drive money directly into the pockets of the powerful Mayor of Jericho. At the same time, an eccentric explorer searches for the passage that could lead through the once impenetrable edge of the world…

Edenwitch is a character-driven, fast-paced and absorbing read that seamlessly weaves together several plot lines into a wonderfully dark adventure…and will eventually seek answers to the oldest of questions.
It only took me a few hours to finish reading this book. It was very well written. The story wasn't too involved and you didn't get lost between the characters. I can't wait until the next book is ready for me to read. I am excited to see what happens. 
I really hope this story doesn't get lost in the Voodoo Witch. The characters are very easily likeable. I don't want the story to follow a one way street. A lot of books end up that way. They start with a good idea and then get lost. 
 

Cover Release for W.S. Greers' Upcoming Book: Frozen Secrets

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Detective Jarrod Granger is a homicide detective with the Anchorage Police Department, investigating a slew of murders in the city. The killer is stabbing his victims 19 times each, and cutting out their tongues, and he has already struck three times. Detective Granger's own past may get in the way of his present and future, but he and his partner, Detective Misty Lawrence, must trudge through their tumultuous work relationship to track down the killer who has been dubbed The Tongue Snatcher. 

Stacey Alexander is a guarded 26 year old unnatural redhead, who is unshakably loyal to her father Vincent. She works day in and day out to take care of Vincent since he has been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, and she would do anything to keep him safe, even when she meets a detective who is quickly falling for her. But, Stacey and Vincent have a dark secret; one that bonds them together more than any "normal" family. And soon, Stacey will have to choose between protecting the father that she loves, or accepting the love of the detective who is zeroing in on a familiar target.