Monday, March 17, 2014

Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte Blog Tour!

Title: Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte 
Author: Susan C. Muller
Series: N/A 
Pages: 270
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing
Date Published: January 1st 2014
Format: Kindle copy
Genre: Thriller/ Romance
Source: Goddess Fish Promotions
Buy HERE

Synopsis:
A frantic phone call leads Detective Remy Steinberg racing through the night toward the one place he vowed never to return. With the life of his kidnapped daughter at stake, he willingly faces shotgun-wielding drug dealers, corrupt law-enforcement officials, and a raging hurricane. Scouring the seedy back alleys of New Orleans for information, he goes undercover at a sinister voodoo ceremony, and struggles to understand the forces of black magic that hold his daughter hostage. With time ticking down, he battles for his life against a high voodoo priest, but can he face the two things he fears most: the swamp that terrorized his childhood, and the ex-wife he’s never stopped loving?

~~~My Thoughts~~~
As a big fan of both New Orleans, and Voodoo as subjects for any book, I was thrilled to get a chance to read and review Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte. It's actually my hopeful plans to attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans next year (plus about a week before or after so I can see it when it's not quite so...topless?) So this was quite the thrill for me to get to read.

The story starts off with the announcement of any parent's nightmare to main character Detective Remy Steinberg when he receives a call saying that his daughter has turned up missing. He reluctantly heads back to Louisiana, a place he thought he'd never have to go again. He knew that dealing with his ex would be difficult, but all of the sudden sparks start re-kindling and he doesn't know what to do. The couple race against time to find their lost daughter-risking more than their lives in the process.

While I tend to dislike cop stories ever since a horrible stint in crime fiction for a class of mine, I actually really liked Remy. It's hard not to find a father searching for his lost daughter pretty awesome. The scene was truly set off by the Bayou and swamp setting. I could practically hear the slither of alligators slipping into the waters to go stalk their prey. So cool!! The mystery element was fun as well and I enjoyed playing "who-dunit"...though in this case it was more about "whats-going-on" lol.
~~~Try an Excerpt!~~~
Remy gritted his teeth and turned off his flashing light bar as he crossed the state line. His badge might carry some weight in Texas, but not in Louisiana. Those guys resented against everything from Texas except the money that rolled in.

Well, too bad. He felt the same about their whole state. Had since the day his mother dragged the family there from New Jersey.

He understood, forgave her even. When his father died, she needed someplace that felt like home. Only it never felt like home to him. In fact, it felt more like purgatory. And he got out of there as fast as he could.

Unfortunately, that meant dragging Gabrielle and Adrienne to Texas with him. And Gabby had refused to do that. She’d given him an ultimatum. Come back or get a divorce. Well, he’d never much liked ultimatums. And he sure didn’t plan to ever live in that state again.

He’d gone to Texas in search of work, sure that if Gabby loved him enough, she’d follow. Only she hadn’t, and he’d refused to give up a good job and return to a hand-to-mouth existence, sponging off of family, and feeling like a failure because he couldn’t support his new baby and his wife.

The same wife who hadn’t loved him enough to come with him.

His hands tightened on the wheel until his fingers went numb. Would things have been different if he hadn’t been so bullheaded? Was Adrienne paying the price for his stubbornness?

He could beat himself up later for rash decisions. All that mattered now was his daughter’s safety.

And every minute that passed, the knot in his gut grew.

He stopped for gas, a quick burger, and to study the map. Nothing had changed. A few more fast-food joints, a few more casinos. But the swamp was still only feet off the road in places.

Another hour of driving, and he turned off the interstate, into bayou country. The lights fell away and he was left with only his headlights poking a hole in the darkness. Even the air felt heavy, like the weight on his shoulders.

How he hated this place. And now it had taken his daughter.
~~~Meet Susan!~~~
Susan C. Muller is a fourth generation Texan. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she majored in Business Administration. She started her first novel at age eleven, but it wasn’t until after she had worked many years and raised a family that she returned to her first love, writing. She is a member of Northwest Houston RWA, Kiss of Death online RWA, and The Houston Writers Guild. Her novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend, has won several awards. Susan and her husband, Sid, live in Spring, Texas with their rescue dog, Buster, a 120 pound black lab of advanced age. They have two children and four grandchildren. They love to travel and have been fortunate to see much of the world. Her favorite places include Kenya, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local hospital. She loves to read, travel, snorkel and take long walks.

Susan will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour so put on your comment hats! If you want to want to find out more about Susan, check out the links below!

9 comments:

  1. A really great review, and a really good excerpt. Sounds like an awesome story.

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  2. Haha Andra, I'm a big fan of anything to do with New Orleans and voodoo as well. I've read so many books that have taken place there, most of them with a supernatural or occult plot device, that I think I'd feel quite at home if I ever visited! Thanks for the review: this sounds like a great read.

    ilookfamous at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks, Elise-Maria. The research for this book was a blast!!

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  3. Thanks, Rita. Glad you enjoyed it.

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  4. Hi Susan and Andrea! Sounds like a great book. I love the cover and the excerpt! Thanks. :-)

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  5. Nice review and excerpt

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

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  6. I'm loving EVERYTHING about this book.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  7. My favorite place is also Kenya! I am impartial however because that is where I was raised for most of life. Did you go in order to volunteer? or did you go on a trip/safari? maureen.simiyu@yahoo.com

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