$10 Amazon Gift Card/Cash via Paypal Giveaway: The Last Finesse by Brian Bloom

In the global corridors of power, a group of faceless men is positioning to usurp control of one of the world’s primary energy resources: uranium. Climate change looms large. Luke Sinclair is a young, Australian-born professor of mineralogy and an expert in the nuclear-fuel cycle. Up to now, he’s led a carefree, hedonistic lifestyle.

But things change: renegade North Korea is about to transfer its illicitly acquired nuclear-weapons technology to Myanmar. The CIA wants to block the development. It enlists the aid of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service. ASIS commandeers Luke, who quickly discovers there are wheels within wheels. Who has the real power? Who are his real friends? Is the attempt to corner the nuclear market ‘The last finesse’ of the faceless men who are so fixated on their personal goals they’ll risk a planetary cataclysm? Has ethical behaviour become merely an anachronism in the 21st Century gladiatorial arena?

The Last Finesse is Brian’s second factional novel. Both were written for the simultaneous entertainment and invigoration of the thinking element of society. It is a prequel to Beyond Neanderthal, which takes a visionary view of humanity’s future, provided we can sublimate our Neanderthal drive to entrench pecking orders in society. The Last Finesse is more “now” oriented. Together, these two books reflect a holistic, right brain/left brain view of the challenges faced by humanity; and how we might meet them. All our problems – including the mountain of debt that casts its shadow over the world’s wallowing economy – are soluble.

About the Author:

In 1987, Brian and his young family migrated from South Africa to Australia where he was employed in Citicorp’s Venture Capital division. He was expecting that Natural Gas would become the world’s next energy paradigm but, surprisingly, it was slow in coming. He then became conscious of the raw power of self-serving vested interests to trump what – from an ethical perspective – should have been society’s greater interests.

Eventually, in 2005, with encouragement from his long suffering wife, Denise, he decided to do something about what he was witnessing: Beyond Neanderthal was the result; The Last Finesse is the prequel.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Conspiracy Thriller

Rating – MA (15+)

More details about the author

Connect with Brian Bloom on Twitter

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Book Feature: Cast in Blood (Morgan Blackstone) by Michelle Rabe

To the outside world, Morgan Blackstone is an eccentric business woman. But, in her chest beats the undead heart of a 21st century vampire. Behind the doors of her nightclub, The Dracul, Morgan rules with an iron fist in a velvet glove.

After a long night of wrangling unruly supernatural customers, she is looking forward to some peace… but unbeknownst to her, there are other vampires who are conspiring against her. Just before dawn, in the deserted parking lot, she comes face-to-face with two old adversaries, one of which she had last seen being sealed in a tomb, 400 years before.

Overpowered by her attackers, Morgan wakes inside the lab of an unscrupulous doctor. Held against her will, subjected to experiments, she soon realizes that something has begun to burn within her veins…

Something that she knows will kill her.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre - Paranormal Urban Fantasy

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author

Connect with Michelle Rabe on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://paperbackvamp.tumblr.com/

Bloggiesta Mini-Challenge (The B-Word: Branding)

So, here it is.  After participating in the Winter 2014 Mini-Bloggiesta, this is my first task that is getting completed on my to-do list - participating in mini-challenges.

Amanda @ "On a Book Bender" is hosting a mini-challenge here, asking us to answer a set of questions.  And so here you go...

1. How well does your blog name reflect what your blog is about?

Books Are Magic - this is my blog name and I think it says it all (at least that's what I would like to think about).  I think and know that books are magical and I would share the magic with everyone else..

2. Create a tagline.

Let me get the magic of books to the greater audience..

3. Look at the name you use to leave comments. Change it to reflect your brand. For example, “Amanda @ On a Book Bender” is more recognizable than just “Amanda.”

I mostly use

Vidya @ Books Are Magic

as my signature in the comments.  But, very rarely, I just leave a direct comment without any signature..rarely.  Those are the times, when I just don't have another minute, but I still feel like saying something in that post.

4. Do you have the same profile picture on all social networks (including your blog)? If no, consider updating your profile pictures so they match.

Yep.  I use my blog at all places.  Below is my logo © Books Are Magic.

 

5. Is the picture of you or an avatar? If no to both, consider getting one.

Again, it's my logo.

6. What do people expect from YOUR blog? (If you don’t know, write what you WANT to be known for.)

I don't know what people expect from my blog.  But, I want to be known for reviews, one that works for your recommendations.  Yes, I want to do some discussion posts and also want to be known for the interesting memes.  I want to share more about my country and my life..  But, having my full time job occupy all my time, I have very less time for reading and reviewing.  Other type of posts --- *sighs* there will come a time, when I can do that..  Still, I am trying to do other posts, when I get more time which is rare.

7. Look at your Twitter timeline. What’s the ratio between interacting with people and self-promoting tweets? (Eyeball it.)

** hangs my head in shame ** see, I have a different timezone from most others, being in India.  So, interaction in Twitter is like so rare.  I come next day and reply to my tweets.  And the other person replies to me the next day after that.  And so it goes.  So, it's difficult to keep up the conversation with my timezone issues.

8. Write a social media update about your latest post (or your latest FAVORITE post) that teases and gives people a reason to click through.

Made a tweet: https://twitter.com/BooksRMagic/status/426650796625645568

Even if you are not participating in this challenge, I still would love to know what you think about..  Share it with me through comments or leave me a link to your post.  I would come visit the posts.

Feature & Follow #36: Books that I am looking forward to read in 2014!

RULES

• To join the fun and make new book blogger friends, just follow these simple rules:
• (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Hosts {Parajunkee and Alison Can Read}
• (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers
• Put your Blog name and URL in the Linky thing. You can also grab the code if you would like to insert it into your posts.
• Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say “hi” in your comments and that they are now following you.
• Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don’t just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don’t say “HI”
• If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love…and the followers.

If you’re new to the follow friday hop, comment and let me know, so I can stop by and check out your blog!