Elmo Piggins and Reginald Dexter served as foils to Ishmael O’Donnell, the main character in Derald Hamilton’s first novel, "The Call," which told the unconventional tale of a group of seminarians. Now Elmo and Reginald return in two prequel novellas that shed additional light upon their backgrounds prior to their call to enter the seminary. Hamilton also includes three stories on similar themes about individual conflict with institutions and the transformations that may result. As with "The Call," "Twice Upon a Prequel" is being praised for its character development and themes. The Pacific Book Review states that the book is “poignant and relevant” and “not a mindless read; be prepared to have to think about the concepts and relationships that are being presented.”

Madigan DeLeon had long been in love with Zach Steele, but he had many issues, including drug use, that led to the end of their relationship. Now she finds herself having new feelings for him when the two of them begin operating a sex club with the same name as the title of (mother-daughter author team) Leslie Ferdinand’s new erotica novel "Wicked Allure." As a hedonist, Zach Steele could not find himself committing to loving permanently any one woman, not even the much younger Madi DeLeon, whom he likes too much to hurt. But when Zach ends their affair, Madi is brokenhearted. Realizing that Zach has his own demons, including a drug-addiction, Madi tries to move on with her life. But three years later, when she finds herself running a private sex club named Wicked Allure, Madi suddenly finds Zach thrust back into her life.

When Claire, a massage therapist in the affluent Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, has begun to use her grandmother’s specially blended Amazonian oil on her clients, neither she nor they have any idea of the euphoric bliss that will result. Claire’s five senior citizen clients suddenly find themselves vividly recalling memories of medieval Spanish ancestors. Cecilia Velástegui, in "Traces of Bliss," expertly weaves together past and present to create historical fiction with fantasy touches that make the story come alive in rich, realistic, and astonishing ways. The novel reminds readers of the past’s value and its influence on our lives. The diverse cast of characters provides insight into class and race issues in California and medieval Spain, while taking readers on a fantastic historical adventure that includes Moorish invasions, Basque Witch trials, duende, prehistoric caves, flamenco dancers and gypsies, cross-dressing seventeenth century military men, mermaids, Sephardic Jews, poets, and shamans, and enough surprising events to fill centuries.

Rand Arbutten, an attorney, has many reasons to hate his father. His hatred is so strong that when his mother commits suicide, Rand cannot believe his father, Sheriff Cord Arbutten, did not really kill his mother. And Rand vows to prove it. When it’s discovered that Rand’s mother was killed with the Sheriff’s old service revolver, and that Rand’s parents were in the middle of a nasty divorce, the pieces seem to fall into place to support Rand’s case. Meanwhile, his father is asked to step down from being sheriff and risks losing everything, including his freedom. Lovers of “LIVE Ringer,” the first book in Lynda Fitzgerald’s “LIVE” series, will not be disappointed by "LIVE Ammo" filled with quirky characters, suspense, a Florida atmosphere, and a peeling away of layers to reveal the secrets of human nature.

Eric Caine, War on Terror veteran, finds himself wandering the streets of Miami after a car accident that leaves him robbed of his memories. Alone and suffering from PTSD, Eric is on a one-way road to self-destruction until a chance meeting in a bar presents an opportunity for him to begin anew. That opportunity is a new job that relocates him to his homeland of Venezuela. At first, things go well with his new job, but soon his life takes an ominous turn when a catastrophic event threatens the country’s stability. Author Henry Mosquera created a non-stop action thriller filled with layer after layer of conflict that keeps the book moving at breakneck speed; along the way, readers will enjoy plenty of romance, deception, intrigue, fascinating characters, and numerous international thrills. As a native of Venezuela, Mosquera does not settle for typical Latin American stereotypes but “gets it right” in terms of depicting his homeland. "Sleeper’s Run" represents the international crime thriller at its finest.

Amanda Wilson can't decide between murder, insanity and another glass of red wine. In "Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines," by author Carol E. Wyer, Amanda is facing 50 and all that it entails is problematic enough. What's the point in minking your eyes, when your husband would rather watch 'Russia Today' than admire you, strutting in front of the television in only thigh boots and a thong? Her son has managed to perform yet another magical disappearing act. Could he actually be buried under the mountain of festering washing which is strewn on his bedroom floor? At least her mother knows how to enjoy herself. She's partying her twilight years away in Cyprus. Queen of the Twister mat, she now has a toy boy in tow. She really shouldn't have pressed that send button. The past always catches up with you sooner or later. Still, her colourful past is a welcome relief to her monochrome present; especially when it comes in the shape of provocative Todd Bradshaw, her first true love. Soon Mandy has a difficult decision to make; one that will require more than a few glasses of Chianti.

After a man dressed in a long priest’s robe and a black, low-crowned, wide-brimmed ecclesiastical hat walked into a Catholic church just prior to the start of a funeral service, stuffed garlic into the deceased’s mouth, and pumped a bullet into the corpse, Detective Louis Martelli finds himself pursuing what may be his most puzzling case. Even more mystifying is the coroner’s report that the deceased, far from having died of respiratory failure and a possible heart attack, had been injected with a lethal dose of Philippine Cobra venom. "Lilith: Demon of the Night," by author Theodore Jerome Cohen, is filled with plenty of surprises that are sure to hook all readers!

The loss of a loved one can lead people to question life and its purpose, and that is never truer than when a loved one is taken at a young age and unexpectedly. After Laura Hayden’s husband, Larry, died suddenly at the young age of forty-nine when he did not survive a preemptive surgery intended to prolong his life, Laura struggled to carry on but found her strength in needing to be there for her young son and daughter. The story of how this family worked through their grief is told in Laura Hayden’s new memoir, "Staying Alive: A Love Story."

All his life, Ishmael O’Donnell has wrestled with family dysfunction and being possessed by the spirit of his long-dead twin brother. With a military father who has always controlled him, Ishmael has only escaped corporal punishment through his mother’s intercession. Seeking purification from his past and freedom from the haunting spirit of his brother, Ishmael eventually makes his way to the seminary. In "The Call," author Derald Hamilton creates an unforgettable cast of quirky, humorous, unorthodox, and larger than life characters as Ishmael’s fellow seminarians. While some have received a legitimate call to the ministry, others are simply fulfilling a family legacy of being clergy. Surprised and shocked by such people and even more by the disillusioning church politics he encounters, Ishmael finds his three years in the seminary will lead him down a path to purification he never could have imagined.

In 2001, thirteen-year old Paul was struck by a car while riding his bicycle without a helmet. His family’s life was turned upside down as they cared for him. Dixie Coskie has told her and her family’s incredible journey through the first year of Paul’s recovery in her previous book "Unthinkable: A Mother’s Tragedy, Terror and Triumph through a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury." Now in her second book "Unthinkable: Tips for Surviving a Child’s Traumatic Brain Injury," Coskie provides hope and help to parents in the same situation by focusing on necessary information for parents. Unthinkable is divided into ten sections of tips, beginning with addressing the steps and components of preparedness. Other tips include what friends should or should not do, how to help other children in the family through the event, and reminders to take care of yourself and to include humor in your life.