Butterflies and Spies

Almost a year ago to the day, I finished reading the novella "Cinders" by author Michelle Davidson Argyle. As soon as I put it down I knew I'd be checking back to see when her next story became available. It wasn't long (mere weeks, actually) before Ms. Argyle signed with a publisher and started planning a roll-out of her projects over the next couple of years. So it was with great excitement and enthusiasm that I was offered a free copy of her upcoming novel, "Monarch," in exchange for a review and blog post!

Here's the blurb from the book jacket:

Nick’s life as a CIA spy should be fulfilling, but it has only given him unhappiness—a wife who committed suicide, and two daughters who resent everything he has become. Now, stuck in the Amazon on the last mission of his career, he must track down Matheus Ferreira, a drug lord and terrorist the U.S. has tried to bring down for years. If he succeeds, he’ll have the chance to start his life over again.

Just when Nick is on the brink of catching Ferreira, he’s framed for a murder that turns his world upside down. His only chance of survival lies in West Virginia where Lilian Love, a woman from his past, owns the secluded Monarch Inn. He’s safe, but not for long…

Sounds awesome, right? Well, let me tell you, it is! Argyle unites the romantic and thriller genres in a way that will please fans of both and convert the holdouts. But I won't get into a full review just yet; that'll post on Monday.

In the meantime, if you're interested in getting your hands on a copy of "Monarch" by Michelle Davidson Argyle, click here! There you can find purchasing links, two sample chapters and a host of information on the eponymous Monarch butterflies.

If you still want more, follow the butterfly in this awesome trailer:


Check back on Monday for my full review!

~VK

Cool Things That Happen When You Publish a Book

I'm slowly getting over the anxiety of making my work available to my adoring public. Certain very cool things have helped me along the way. They are as follows:

-My Mom. I mean obviously she's going to buy whatever I write and tell me it's the best thing ever penned by human hands, but her unwavering support makes every endeavor that much easier.

-My friends. Again, I appreciate that they're eager to gobble up anything I put out there. They form the first circle of the fan club.

-Other bloggers. Jamie, over at "Writers Write, Right?" not only bought a copy of "Crawl," but offered to review it on his blog once he finished it. How cool is that? Check out his site and you can see that "Crawl" has taken up a prestigious spot on his Nook.

-Other authors. Michelle Davidson Argyle, author of the lovely novella Cinders, has offered to include a copy of "Crawl" in her monthly giveaway! More details on that as it nears. Pretty cool stuff!

Michelle, recently represented by Rhemalda Publishing, has her debut novel "Monarch" coming out this September. Check out the book trailer here or head over to Goodreads to see how you can pre-order!

Awesome things are happening in 2011 and you can get an early start on it! Click on the orange button on the top right of the screen to buy a copy of "Crawl" from Lulu.com either on paperback or in e-format. If you buy from Lulu, use promo code IDES305 until 3/15/11 to save 15%! Beware the Ides of March!

You can also pick it up for your Kindle at Amazon!

Thanks again to everyone who's already purchased it! I hope you love it enough to post a review wherever you bought it. Have a great weekend!

~VK