Location: Ireland
Member Since: Aug. 05, 2011
Emma Meade
Biography
I love reading and writing supernatural fiction. On a rainy day there is nothing better than curling up on the couch with a hot cup of tea and watching a marathon of my favourite tv shows (Buffy, Roswell, Dark Angel, True Blood, The Big Bang Theory, Friends...to name a few)
Where to find Emma Meade online
Twitter: emmameade83
- emmameade83: Why don't you deliver?! http://t.co/gB8ClKu8 via @emeraldbarnes
- emmameade83: I read an excerpt from 'Ample Attraction' on The Melissa Craig & Charity Parkerson Show http://t.co/YeK1WT6z via @MelissaKCraig
- emmameade83: RT @kendallgrey1: #INHALE is so phat, it'll clog your arteries! #99cents for #Kindle for a limited time. #SaveTheWhales http://t.co/A3jlZZut
- emmameade83: Book Review: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (Is it Worth Surviving the Apocalypse?) http://t.co/2wMkyh4N
- emmameade83: Book Review: Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur (Extremely Hot! You may need to take a cold shower) http://t.co/G2GKRVCM
Books
This member has not published any books.Smashwords book reviews by Emma Meade
- The Dashwood Haunting (Ghosts, Horror, Occult) (Amy Stuart Occult Mystery Series, Book 1)
on Sep. 01, 2011
Amy Stuart is a blogger for Australia’s biggest paranormal magazine. Her elderly aunt in England summons her to collect her legacy and Amy is delighted when she convinces her boss to pay for the trip by promising to investigate Francis Dashwood’s Hellfire club and other spots of supernatural activity. On arrival in England Amy finds her aunt dead in the house and a creepy note warning her of danger and the Dashwood Trust. Almost immediately Amy is surrounded by friends of her aunt, the old nextdoor neighbour Miranda, the gorgeous Declan who becomes her tour guide and the equally attractive Nick. But something feels strange and a little off to Amy who admits she is a magnet for the paranormal. As Amy learns more about Dashwood she finds herself pulled deeper into a mystery that goes back centuries, one that may very nearly get her killed. The Dashwood Haunting is a fast-paced, enjoyable read. For history enthusiasts there are tons of interesting facts and anecdotes of the past and intriguing tales of secret societies and alchemists. Amy is a down-to-earth young woman that female readers will easily identify with. Smart, witty and single but very much up for some harmless fun, she is a joy to read as she comes to grips with English culture and their love of drinking tea. Nyland throws in lots of pop culture references (Buffy, X-Files, the demise of Murdoch’s News of the World), which affords the story a contemporary feel. Although categorised as a paranormal romance, The Dashwood Haunting is more of a drama with supernatural elements and the romance is not central. Light but intelligent reading.
- Dark Bites: Four Tales of Horror
on Sep. 02, 2011
Windy City of the Dead I enjoyed this. There was plenty of action following a zombie outbreak in Chicago. Crow finds herself having to get armed and battle ready pronto if she wants to make it out of her apartment and the city alive. Luckily she just happens to find a Samurai sword in her neighbour's apartment (I thought that part was pretty funny). Like Cats and Dogs I'm not into werewolves or werenanimals that much so I found myself just skimming through this story. The Red Planet I appreciated this because it offers a new take on vampires. Set in the 24th century but dipping back to when Jenny became a vampire in the 21st century keeps the story moving along nicely. 848. This tale really disturbed me. It isn't supernatural but rather shows how horrific people can be. Brutal ending. Overall I really enjoyed reading these tales and thought the female characters were strong, independent and well written. The endings leave you hanging though so I would love to read a follow up.
- Self-Printed: The Sane Person's Guide to Self-Publishing
on Sep. 05, 2011
I was delighted to find such a comprehensive, step-by-step guide on self-publishing (ahem self-printing). The author had to through this exact process herself so her own experience is extremely helpful. Written with a humorous slant, this guide should be easy to follow for the majority of aspiring self-publishers.
- Taming the Vampire: A Paranormal Romance Novella
on Sep. 20, 2011
Taming the Vampire is a short, easy read. Liz Marlowe is a demon hunter. Coming from a long line of Green Fae, Liz is a mostly human warrior striving to prove her worth on the streets of Boston which are currently being stalked by an unknown menace. She is attracted to the vampire Jack Morgan who has allied himself with her cause but because of his species she despises him and vice versa. This being a paranormal romance we know where this is going to end up; nonetheless getting to that point is a fun read. It’s fun watching the sexual tension between Jack and her grow. You can sense the electricity crackling in the air when these two are bickering. A spicy, enjoyable read.
- Island Life
on Oct. 24, 2011
Meikle beautifully captures the image of an isolated, Scottish island and the quiet pace of life before the peace is so harshly interrupted. The story starts off slow at first, introducing us to the characters and is told from multiple points of view, including Sam, an ageing sheepdog. Such a focus on characters is reminiscent of Stephen King. One of King’s best attributes as a writer is his ability to portray the people in his stories so vividly. Meikle has the same talent. Once the attacks begin the story really gets going and we read on with trepidation, hoping for Anne’s rescue and old Tom’s safety. What exactly are these loathsome, deformed monsters and what have they been doing deep inside the mound? The book delves back thousands of years into the past to explain their origin. An enjoyable read with likeable characters, not to be taken too seriously.
- Appliances Included
on Oct. 25, 2011
If something seems too good to be true it probably is(something the characters should have thought about). Chilling, scary, well-written & a riveting read. Also enjoyed the background info to the story the author provided.
- Bone Dressing
on Nov. 09, 2011
Syd is a complex teenager. She’s had a crappy childhood and tends to get into trouble at school and with her put-upon foster parents. She likes to curse something fierce and is a loyal and a great friend to her best pal Patricia. From the opening sentence the reader is sucked into Syd’s overloaded mind. Warning! There is a lot going on in there and you will need to pay constant attention to keep up with her rapid fire thoughts, but it’s worth it. Syd is headstrong, grouchy and loves hanging out at cemeteries and she is a big fan or rain and storms, all things I can relate to. (The cemetery part was back in my own teenage years just to point this out). Enter the alluring Beau, the young Sarah and their pet panther and the paranormal aspect starts to kick in. I don’t want to give away the plot but suffice to say that these 3 aid Syd in going back (we’re talking way back) into her past to set things right. I did find Syd’s ramblings confusing at times & somewhat frustrating but her fiery personality hooked me and I kept reading. As well as the supernatural elements, Brooks touches on more serious issues such as misuse of authority and sexual harassment and abuse. Syd exudes a tough-cookie attitude (I like to see this in female characters) and was a pleasure to follow, and I will most definitely be reading the next part in the Bone Dressing series.
- Haunted Bedtime Stories
on Nov. 14, 2011
I loved one short story in particular, Aunt Francy's Ghosts. Filled with vibrant and intriguing characters such as Aunt Francy herself who is full of life at 110 and cooler than most people any of us have probably ever met. She’s a creative talent and an independent, no-nonsense lady who happens to share her grand estate with lots of ghosts. She loves past eras like the 20s and 30s when people knew how to enjoy the good life and she likes to indulge in a glass of champagne every now and again. Who doesn’t? I’d recommend this book for some light reading but just not before sleep
- The Vampire from Hell: (Part 1) - The Beginning
on Nov. 19, 2011
Rayea is a vampire and she’s also the least favourite daughter of Satan (he has a problem with the fact that she likes humans). Oh and she’s a blogger too. Pretty cool right? Rayea lives in hell and enjoys shopping on the internet; this left me wondering how delivery works but moving on. Her father, the devil himself enjoys torturing her, and her evil sister Stephanie has it out for Rayea. Her only ally is a seven foot friendly hellhound. A good introduction to a new supernatural series and funny in parts. I laughed out loud when Stephanie asked Rayea what she was doing on the internet. “Mindlook. Twizzler?” to which an exasperated Rayea replies “It’s Facebook and Twitter.” This is a free teaser. If you like a different sort of vampire story check this out.
- Red
on Dec. 15, 2011
17 year old Elodie Rose is on the cusp of becoming a werewolf. She and her dad have spent the last few years preparing for this inevitability, ever since they received the sinister note left by her dead mother explaining Elodie’s hereditary curse. The note made it clear that having sex would finalise the transition from human to monster. Elodie desperately wants to remain human and has led a solitary life, keeping away from friends and boys, following her mother’s advice to the letter. So what’s a girl to do when she meets the strong and gorgeous Sawyer? Many YA novels I’ve read of late have shied away from sex and even talking about sex. Red doesn’t. While there are no explicit scenes, the reality of raging teen hormones is acknowledged. Teenagers kiss and touch, and passion can lead to young lovers getting carried away, something that almost happens to Edodie and Sawyer while skinny-dipping. Elodie is a product of her parents’ lack of precaution. She doesn’t want to make the same mistake as her mother but her physical attraction towards Sawyer is undeniable. I also like the normal dialogue. Teens curse, and so do Elodie and Sawyer. The topic of suicide is often taboo when it comes to YA books but not in Red where thoughts of suicide have plagued Elodie her whole life. I know I love a book when I find it hard to put it down longer than the time it takes for me to make a cup of tea. Red is such a book. I found myself talking the ears off my friends about it. Above all, Red is a well written book; it’s clear this book was edited well, something I always appreciate The readers are also treated to both Elodie’s and Sawyer’s perspectives. I enjoy hearing from the male point of view.
- The Guest
on March 12, 2012
A vampire fraternizing with Buddhist monks. Who'd have ever thought that eh? Short but sweet little story. I read this over my cup of tea at breakfast this morning. Reading about Karma was a good way to start off the day.