Thursday, March 10, 2016

BLOG TOUR AND GIVEAWAY: The Island by Clarissa Johal



By Booktrope, Forsaken Imprint (2015) 
ISBN-13: 978-1-5137-0161-5 
ASIN: B010TE7W1G 
Number of Pages: 210 

About THE ISLAND: Exploring a remote island can sometimes get you into trouble. Especially when you stumble upon a cave and awaken two demons. Rumors and superstition. That’s what Emma thinks about local gossip concerning her grandmother’s “cursed” private island. Emma journeys to the island to ready it for sale. While out exploring, she unearths a hidden cave–a cave which holds answers to the island’s dark past. There may be more to the rumors than she thought. 

Excerpt from THE ISLAND:
She was jarred awake by a cry. The vestiges of her nightmare dissipated as she orientated herself. Nightmare. Emma let out a sigh of relief. The cry sounded again. A distant sound, high and wailing. A baby’s cry. Her heart quickened. Good god, surely that can’t be a baby?
The fire in the stove had burned down, its embers lending a glow to the living room. Emma looked out the front window. The yard was still. She unlocked the door and opened it a crack. The cry drifted in with the breeze, faint but unmistakable. She ran through her mind what possible bird or animal could make the sound and came up with nothing. Characteristically, the island was blanketed with silence, almost like a vacuum. She stood, uncertain. After several minutes, the sound started again—the unmistakable high wail of a baby. She slipped on her boots and parka.
Fog trailed like cobwebs in her wake. The mournful cry threaded through the trees and came from the direction of the house ruins. In spite of a growing anxiety at what she’d find, she quickened her pace. If that is a baby, it’s still alive, and I need to get to it. If it’s not a baby… She blocked out the possibilities of what else it could be.
She approached the ruins and the sound stopped. Her heart raced. I know it was coming from here. The area held an unnatural heaviness. A branch cracked behind her and she turned with a start. Something dark darted through the trees.
“Hello?” Her voice sounded muffled in the fog. Emma’s attention snapped to the left. The dark figure ducked out of sight. She took one step backward, and fled.
Heavy footsteps echoed from behind as she plunged through the trees. They were catching up with her. Emma pushed herself to run faster, terrified she’d lose her footing on the uneven ground. The cabin loomed large, a haven in the thick fog. Stumbling across the cabin’s porch, she hurdled through the door and slammed it shut, locking it.
Emma rooted her feet to keep from running around in circles. Straining to hear, she was greeted with eerie silence. Several moments passed before the baby’s cry started again. And this time, it sounded from right outside the door.

Review: The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover. There is just something eerie about the island, and the black and white starkness of the cover. I have a sense of foreboding every time I look at it!   After reading the book description, you just know that weird things are going to happen to Emma on the island--and I, for one, couldn't wait to find out what they were.

Ms. Johal is excellent at writing scenes which make your heart race. There is suspense, humor, paranormal activity and romance--a little something for everyone.  All of the characters are well-developed, and all of the loose ends are tied up fully by the end of the book. Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down.

Rating:  Four stars
***
THE ISLAND Buy Links: 
During this tour, the book will be available for only 99 cents, just in case you need another incentive to read it!!

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pxq99em 
Amazon UK: http://tinyurl.com/nwbq3oz 
Amazon CA: http://tinyurl.com/q36rel8 
Barnes and Noble: http://tinyurl.com/zhe7cej



About the Author: Clarissa Johal is the author of paranormal novels, THE ISLAND, VOICES, STRUCK, and BETWEEN. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing, taking pictures of gargoyles, or swinging from a trapeze. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters, and every stray animal that darkens their doorstep. 

Find Clarissa Online: 
Author Website: http://www.clarissajohal.com/ 
Blog: http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarissa.johal.9 
Twitter: @ClarissaJohal 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4502113.Clarissa_Johal 
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Clarissa-Johal/e/B003KVTMPK/ 
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/clarissajohal/ 
Google+: https://plus.google.com/101586327494596967316/posts 


WIN an ecopy of THE ISLAND by Clarissa Johal 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TOUR SCHEDULE
http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/2016/03/virtual-book-tour-schedule-island-by.htm

2 comments:

Clarissa Johal, Author said...

Thank you for taking the time to read/review THE ISLAND :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for hosting Clarissa and for reviewing The Island!