Guest Post by Author, Donna Galanti

I've been screaming through the blogosphere for some time now: "Dark is coming!" Well, minions it's here! Donna Galanti's debut novel, A HUMAN ELEMENT released last week on March 15th! Woot! (Note: If you want to know more about this unique paranormal thriller, check out my book review here.)

This week I'm happy to participate in her dark tour and host Donna as she guest posts on my blog and interviews her unearthly villain, X-10. Please welcome Donna!

Thanks, Mina! I thought it would be fun to give all your blog followers exclusive insight into the sick mind of one of my characters. Are you ready? Dare to meet X-10, the villain of A HUMAN ELEMENT...

Did you have a happy childhood? 
What’s happiness? A word you people use when you have nothing else to say. An empty word representing your pitiful emotions. I didn’t have a childhood. I grew up in a room, alone except for pathetic doctors who made me take tests over and over. And then I killed them all. That was a day I felt happy. Killing takes away the loneliness.

Who are you opposing and why? 
Laura. She gets to live a life I never had. A life with a name. I want a name. Charlie. It’s a nice name, right? But I’m the freak while Laura looks normal. I hate her for that.

Do you think maybe medication could help you? This vengeance thing isn’t healthy.
Medication? Yeah, I’ve had medication. That decrepit doctor pumps me full of drugs to dull my powers. I feel powerless and weak. Like you humans. Like Laura will feel someday, and her stupid lover. You’re annoying me. I don’t like to be annoyed. I don’t need to be near you to kill you, you know.

Okay, okay. So what is it you plan to do once you reach your goal? 
When I escape for this pit I’ll kill that bitch, Laura. But I’ll never kill her from my mind’s eye. This one has to be done in the flesh. Soon her time will come. And she will know what I am. She will watch her lover die and then I will watch her die. I’ll squeeze her perfect limbs between my hands and hear her cry out in pain. Lovely.

What would your mother think of all this? 
I didn’t grow up with a mother, you idiot. I never needed a mother. Mothers are something you humans whine to. I killed my mother before she could have a chance to raise me as a human. Ripped her apart when I was born. I was more powerful then, as a child, than she would ever be. Serves her right.

Nice. So how would you describe yourself? 
Tall and handsome (laughs). More powerful than any one on Earth, with amazing powers of telepathy, telekinesis, and strength. I am the ultimate puppet master of you people. I’m invincible. You can’t kill me. I have the power to heal myself. I hate wearing your human clothes too. I enjoy being naked and admire my bulging muscles. See?

Hmmm, yes. So who are your closest allies? 
The people I kill. That fat guard whose neck cracked so easily. He was an ally. His truck got me far down the road until it ran out of gas. And the scientist who imprisoned me. He was an ally. When I ripped out his throat he left me his stash of food to gorge on for energy. He served his purpose. The doctor who delivered me and sold me to the government. He was my ally when he led me to Laura. But then he had to die for that.

And now...enjoy and EXCERPT WITH X-10:
X-10 hovered over the doctor’s body. His anger drained away and he felt relief. He returned his mind to his body in the car. He needed to rest before continuing north. Travelling with his powers expended such energy it left him weak. But he needed to leave the car and hide out. He walked into the woods, breathing deep of all the life around him. After heading half a mile into the woods away from the dirt road, he found a hollow and lay down on the ground covering himself in a mound of leaves.

Within a few minutes his body heat warmed him inside his cocoon and X-10 slept. It was his turn to dream of the girl. He chased her as he always did, toying with her before he shredded her throat. But this time she stopped running and turned to walk back towards him. He stopped in his tracks, amazed she would do that when she knew he would kill her.

"Charlie, come with me. I know what you are. We are the same.”

He shook his head, wanting to hate her. How did she know he wanted to be called Charlie? His mission had been to kill her. It had always been so. If it changed now what would he do? What would he become?

“Don’t give into hate.”

“What do you know about hate?” 

“I know hate. And it’s short lived. Love lives forever." She held out her hand. “Come.”

“No!" He rushed towards her but she disappeared and he was left alone, as he had always been.

About A HUMAN ELEMENT:

One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next.

Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite–her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a mad man, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test.

With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his and she has two choices–redeem him or kill him.Readers who devour paranormal books with a smidge of horror and steam will enjoy A HUMAN ELEMENT, the new novel about loss, redemption, and love.


Reviewers are saying…

“A HUMAN ELEMENT is an elegant and haunting first novel. Unrelenting, devious but full of heart. Highly recommended.” –Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author of ASSASSIN’S CODE and DEAD OF NIGHT

“A HUMAN ELEMENT is a haunting look at what it means to be human. It’s a suspenseful ride through life and love…and death, with a killer so evil you can’t help but be afraid. An excellent read.” –Janice Gable Bashman, author of WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE, nominated for a Bram Stoker Award.

BIO:
Donna Galanti is the author of the dark novel A Human Element (Echelon Press). She won first place for Words on the Wall Fiction at the 2011 Philadelphia Writer’s Conference. Donna has a B.A. in English and a background in marketing. She is a member of International Thriller Writers, The Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group and Pennwriters. She lives with her family in an old farmhouse in PA with lots of nooks, fireplaces, and stinkbugs. Visit her at: www.donnagalanti.com

LIKE Donna’s Author Facebook page for news and updates! Her tour runs through April 11thh with book giveaways, more guest posts, and interview fun, and a chance to win the big prize giveaway! So pop over to her blog to see the full tour schedule.

Connect with Donna here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DonnaGalanti
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor
Blog: http://blog.donnagalanti.com/wp/

Purchase A HUMAN ELEMENT via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords

ARC Review: A Human Element by Donna Galanti

Today I’m reviewing Donna Galanti's upcoming debut novel, A HUMAN ELEMENT.  Donna must have picked up on my weakness for Dean Koontz, because A HUMAN ELEMENT echoes the bestselling author in terms of creativity, the supernatural and overall dark allure. Add in a little paranormal romance and you've got one delicious literary paranormal mashup.

A HUMAN ELEMENT starts off with a bang, literally.  To the world, a meteorite has crashed near Coopersville's lake located in a remote region in New York state. To a secret government operative, something else crashed near that lakefront…something out of this world.  At the time Ben Fieldstone was only nine and lost everything in the destruction, including his parents.  From that moment on, his life changed miserably as he was then forced into the foster system.  Ben lived under deplorable conditions, always having to watch his back. With a life like that, no wonder he chose a solitary existence for the bulk of his life.  The crash not only caused devastation, it sparked life in a form of beautiful woman name Laura Armstrong.  Born out of desperation, she was adopted and lived a semi-normal, peaceful life with her family and neighbors near the crash site.  Laura is truly a remarkable heroine.  She represents happiness, love, forgiveness and above all hope.  But with her existence, lurks a dark presence; one that haunts her and eventually kills those that she loves.

With the government’s debauching schemes and a strange man in black always watching, does Laura have what it takes to battle the darkness, uncover the truth and save the ones that she loves, including Ben?  What type of a future can two misfits like Ben and Laura have together?  Are they only connected by the crash site or is there more?  Um…I’m not tell’n ya! You’ll just have to get A HUMAN ELEMENT and find out.  And boy let me tell you it is goooood!

Dark is coming my friends and it’s called  A HUMAN ELEMENT. This book peaked my interest from the start.  If you love adult sci-fi/supernatural novels (like a Koontz), but you’re looking for more romance...this is your book.  On my RIP meter, Donna Galanti's  A HUMAN ELEMENT is a 4.  The book releases March 15.  Visit Donna's website for more details.

Mina B.

ARC Review: Jessica Therrien’s Oppression

I just finished Jessica Therrien’s debut novel, Oppression. Wow, what a unique and fantastic YA tale.  I'm not usually a fan of Greek mythology, but this book was so well done, I was completely smitten and can’t wait for Book 2.  I’ll do my best not to mention too many spoilers, but if I do…sorry.

Elyse is an 89 year old woman who ages slowly thanks to her gene pool and looks like she's 18.  She's not human; she’s actually a descendant of gods, specifically Asclepius, known as the God of healing.  Elyse knows none of this, of course, since her parents hid her from the other descendants in order to protect her.  It was a decent plan until they died, leaving Elyse to spend the majority of her life alone. 


Since she never knew who or what she was, living among humans was always a challenge, especially due to her youthful appearance.  Throughout a lifetime, she found solace among a few humans that she loves dearly.  As she makes yet another move to a new area, this time San Francisco, she meets a young, handsome and mysterious man, William.  From the moment, William was introduced, I liked him.  And as more of his story unfolded, I grew to adore him. The two of them together are wonderfully matched. Like Elyse, William is a descendant—from the bloodline of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love.  Does that sound delicious or what?  It is...trust me.

As William introduces Elyse into the local descendant community, Elyse learns about her parent's past and also her untold future.  As a child of Asclepius, she is the last healer and is considered the new mother.  And her future and ability are tied to a prophecy that may just set her oppressed people free.  Each child of the gods carries their own unique power, but naturally, there are those that are far superior than others, namely The Council.  This band of select few govern the descendants, using methods that are cruel and deadly not just for descendants but for mankind.  Everything seems great until Elyse's human family is threatened.  And prophecy or not, Elyse will have to make a choice that could kill her.

This book was a page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed. Oppression has a dark yet seductive undertone of Greek mythology that is cool and enticing.  There were hints of Shakespeare weaved throughout the tale, including the ending that left me spellbound.  Although book one had a general ending, it left me with the understanding that this series is far from over.  In fact, it's only the beginning.  Bring it on Book 2.  Oppression was a 4 for me and releases February 28th.   You can pre-order it via Amazon or Barnes and Noble.  In the meantime, add it to your GoodReads list.  

Mina B.

ARC Review: Rachel Caine's Last Breath

Book 11 in Rachel Caine’s New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampire series is Last Breath – and boy did it take my breath away.  Before I begin, I’d first like to give a #shoutout to Rex Robot Reviews & her killer ARC tour! THANKS!!!

Last Breath begins with the planning of the impending nuptials of two of the Glass House Residents, Michael an Eve.  If these two aren’t star-crossed lovers, I’m not sure who is. She’s human and he’s a vampire and well, frankly…their relationship is inevitably doomed.  Humans in Morganville have been and always will be...food.  And according to one of the many unwritten vampire rules, one cannot have a real relationship with the cattle a.k.a. humans.  Michael and Eve, from the beginning were defending their relationship and now wedding against - not just the vampires - but the humans as well.

The humans have much animosity (more like bone-chilling hate) towards the vamps.  Now it’s ripe and boiling over with the pinnacle being the subsequent marriage to two lovers.  As lines are drawn and demands are made, something evil and sinister is lurking around the town of Morganville.  There’s a new predator in town – Magnus - and he’s hunting vampires and humans alike.  Oh, I promise you, it’s unlike anything you've read yet. *shivers*

Fear makes vampires, and humans behave insanely – and that’s putting it mildly when you think about Amelia’s decision-making.  Scary, to say the least.  In a fit, she makes a hasty decision that nearly ends Shane’s life which in return causes strife among the Glass House residents, especially Claire.


From there the tale takes a dark, delcious twist where murder and mayhem become a bit too literal for Claire, Shane, Eve and Michael.  I won’t tell you what happens, that would be WRONG – but it was enough to bring me to tears. (I’m such a sap sometimes.)  But, alas, dead or not, life goes in Morganville (the town of walking dead.)  With Magnus on the hunt, vampires on the run and human's rioting, will Morganville ever become somewhat civilized again? And despite the powerful bond the Glass House has with its inhabitants, will it be enough to save them in the end? The vampires and human will have to ally once more to defeat the ultimate evil or die trying. Can they do it? Can they win without anyone else from the Scooby gang getting killed?

I said it before; this book took my breath away. First half, I was laughing my a** off and then I was sobbing like a fool. This book was so wonderfully written it left me spellbound. My only comment was I didn't care for the perspective of Amelia and Michael. These are such strong characters – I wasn’t sure the book needed their perspective. Still, that didn’t take away from the book.  For me, Rachel Caine’s Last Breath was easily a 4.5.

Until next time...vampires, draugs, and humans, oh my!

Mina B.