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Lada Ray Blog

Lada Ray Blog

Tag Archives: mystery thriller

#CyberMonday 30% off Book Sale on #Amazon

01 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by Lada Ray in Author Feature, BOOK: Catharsis, BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Green Desert, BOOK: Stepford USA, BOOK: THE EARTH SHIFTER, My Updates, Writing and Publishing

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#Cybermonday, Amazon, books by Lada Ray, CIA, destiny, FSB, geopolitics, Gold Train, holiday book sale, metaphysical, mystery thriller, prophecy, remote viewing, Russia, spies, spiritual, Steford USA, The Earth Shifter, thriller, YA fantasy

Hello, all!

Just letting everyone know: today, Monday, December 1 only, #Amazon is running a 30% promo on any print book. If you had in mind to order my books, but didn’t get the chance – this is a great opportunity! Enter promo code: HOLIDAY30.

My ebook sale is also still on through holidays! Stepford USA ebook is only $1.49! Check out others, too.

These are the links to my novels in print:

THE EARTH SHIFTER

GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure)

STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy Small Town Adventure)

Happy Holiday Season!

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Indie Book Review Fest

01 Monday Oct 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Catharsis, BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, BOOK: Stepford USA, Guest Posts, Reviews

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

5 star books, Author Lada Ray, awesome reads, book reviews, books kindle, Catharsis, ebooks, fantasy scifi, Gold Train by author Lada Ray, indie authors, Kindle, Legend of the Lemurians, mystery thriller, Smashwords, Stepford USA

Welcome to the Indie Book Review Fest! Included are my September reviews of 4 great books by fellow authors, as well as the most recent and best reviews of my own books. I promise a feast for the reader’s soul with a variety of genres, including adventure, mystery/thriller, fantasy/scifi, metaphysical/spiritual, paranormal and non-fiction/history.

Without further ado…

RAHALA: An Ascension Odyssey by Jason Sullivan

Category: fantasy/scifi, dystopian, spiritual/metaphysical

FREE at this time on Smashwords!

Cover for 'Rahala: An Ascension Odyssey' Review by: Lada Ray on Sep. 16, 2012 : star star star star star
Fascinating, Visionary and Creative – Highly Recommended!

While visiting the ancient rocks in northern Arizona, friends Marcia, Steve and Harvey encounter a striking inter-dimensional phenomenon, and meet a friendly alien who shows them the future destruction of the Earth by vicious extraterrestrials called Perathons.

What ensues is a highly imaginative, philosophical and visionary story of a quest by three very different humans to save the planet. Although the book features various aliens, it is as much about saving the planet from them, as it is about saving it from ourselves, particularly from those humans who succumb to greed, aggression and other vices. It is also about saving OURSELVES, our souls, our hearts, all that is pure and good; it is about remembering who we are and what’s important.

The imagery is both profound and creative. The author takes his protagonists back in time: to ancient France and medieval Ireland, where the reader is asked to reconnect with the pure nature of our planet, and to the dismal distant future, where we see what would become of us and the Earth, if heroic action is not taken to prevent this time-line from becoming a gruesome reality.

I loved the spiritual/metaphysical element in the story, reminiscent of the Earth’s wisdom from the Native American and ancient European traditions, as well as what we call today the “New Thought.” At times, Rahala also reminded me of the famous book, The Celestine Prophecy.

Jason Sullivan’s book packs a lot of information in a relatively short space. It is easy and pleasant to read, includes some humor, yet it gets you thinking about the important truths we often forget or brush aside. I highly recommend this enjoyable, imaginative and spiritual read to anyone!

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CATHARSIS, Legend of the Lemurians (Earth Keepers Chronicles: Book 1) by Lada Ray

Category: fantasy/scifi, YA, dystopian, spiritual/metaphysical 

Available on Amazon US  UK  and other countries

Smashwords – FREE!

Coming to B&N, Kobo, Sony, Apple any day now!

Catharsis can also be purchased at Lada Ray Book Store (PDF)

Catharsis was released on September 13, 2012. I intend to keep it free for the time being on Smashwords, and possibly on B&N, Kobo, Sony and Apple. It is only $.99 on Kindle. Below are excerpts from the best reviews it received so far.

Review by: Mary Ellis on Sep. 30, 2012 : star star star star star
CATHARSIS immediately drew me in!
I’ve just finished a really intriguing short story written by Lada Ray: Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians, is Book 1 of the new Earth Keepers Series. It is a metaphysical/dystopian short, which is also the companion and prequel to the upcoming YA fantasy/thriller novel, THE EARTH SHIFTER.

Catharsis is only 11K words, or about 30 pages in length, but it delivers quite an impact. The characters, back story, setting—all work together to create the aura of fairytale magic, along with important lessons to be learned. I found myself rooting for the Uglies, especially the protagonist Morf, as they try to save the planet, and as they have to make the hardest choice of their uneasy lives.

This first book of a very promising new series, is a relatively quick and easy read. Heart warming message about remembrance, and what it means to be a genuine human being. In these times, when we focus on all the bad news around us, it’s easy to forget this precious lesson. A truly great and inspiring read, recommended for all age groups but especially for young people… it will give them hope and a brighter outlook for the future! Highly recommend, I am eagerly awaiting the next installment, which will feature the Lemurians’ and Atlanteans’ life on Earth. 5 Stars for this elegant work.

Review by: Inspirational Fiction/IF Mystery Sep. 30, 2012 : star star star star
Great writing, plotting and pacing but the short story just ended, leaving me scratching my head. A great morality lesson for young adults, especially in this age of bullies, still I wish the author had fleshed out the events on Earth.

Lada says: This is a series of shorts, therefore, the events on Earth for both the Lemurians and Atlanteans are coming up in the next 3 books – to be released in the first part of 2013. Stay tuned!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
This prequel will appeal to lovers of Star Trek, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Star Wars, all rolled into an exciting new series September 19, 2012
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Review by: J.J.Collins  Format: Kindle Edition
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I read all the author’s previous books and loved them all. “Catharsis – Legend of the Lemurians”, the author’s first book of the Earth Keepers Chronicles. The author has an exceptional talent to blend amazing creative writing, brilliant imagination and current topical issues in her writing. Catharsis has everything, science, astrology, mythology, biblical prophecy, and current affairs, all intertwined in a magical tour de force. You can tell the author puts a little bit of her soul into everything she writes, this pays off exceptionally well, as the reader will always find it difficult to remove oneself from the journey presented.
..
This prequel transcends all age groups, every character has a significance and every page a twist. It contains strong values, fosters loyalty and respect, and provides for the type of leadership qualities that we all seek, but rarely find in our own modern day world.
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The promise for the future and the sense of the unknown for the main characters is as relevant, and as important to the main characters, as it is to any reader of this wonderful piece.

Review by: Madeline Walsh on Sep. 17, 2012 : star star star star star

A Beautiful Tale of Paradise Lost and Paradise Found! What does it mean to be ugly, Truly ugly from the inside-out? We are about to find out as Author, Lada Ray, takes us on a timeless adventure from a distant galaxy far away and long ago. Lessons “forgotten” tend to repeat themselves throughout history until we ultimately learn from them. “Catharsis” is a timely tale that warns us about how our collective future may unfold if we don’t wake up!

Review by: KatesReads on Sep. 15, 2012 : star star star star
This is a great short story and intro into The Earth Keepers Chronicles. It is very imaginative and well plotted. Even in such a short story Lada Ray packs a powerful message.

Review by: Jason Sullivan on Sep. 15, 2012 : star star star star star
Do you believe in the Atlanteans or, the even more obscured by time and history, Lemurians? Could they have come from another planet? ‘Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians’ is a fascinating allegorical tale by the talented author, Lada Ray. This allegorical story contains important truths, which are especially relevant today. Read ‘Catharsis, Legend of the Lemurians’! It will get you thinking about collective karma, where we might have come from, and what the future could hold if we do not learn to care for each other and to share the resources of planet Earth.

Review by: ReviewerRachel on Sep. 14, 2012 : star star star star
Catharsis! This book may be only 27 pages, but it wowed me! I’m usually not drawn to short stories at all, I just stay so disconnected. The book gave off a pleasant sense of whimsy, at the same time, it underlined crucial lessons about understanding/bullying/stereotypes/societal norms. I just all-around adored it! It was just so different from everything else I’ve ever read. I loved the background stories, the lessons it expressed. Several of them closely mirrored my favorite Bible stories. It didn’t leave me empty like other short stories, it filled me up completely. I absolutely recommend this book to people looking for a satisfying read.

..

SECRETS of GHOSTS by Mardi Orlando

Category: YA, fantasy, paranormal, metaphysical, history
Available on Amazon and B&N.
..
Secrets of Ghosts: forgotten Orphans An Abandoned Church Too Many Secrets
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absorbing Journey with Mystery, Magic and Heart, September 21, 2012
Review by: Lada Ray Format: Kindle Edition
..
Brought together by their mysterious and powerful gifts, seven teenagers have been stranded between worlds. Their mission is simple: uncover the hidden past, free the ghosted children stuck for a hundred years in an abandoned church, defeat the shadow…and try to survive the experience.
.
The problem is, while the ghosted children are fruitlessly trying to remember their past in order to move to the light, the seven teenagers who are tasked with saving them, desperately want to forget theirs. However, without releasing their own demons, the teens won’t be able to help the ghosts, moreover, they won’t be able to save themselves.
.
The book alternates between the past – devastating times of World War I & II – and the present. The tragic stories of the ghosted children, of the local town and of the seven teenagers are woven together into one absorbing, haunting tale. I found myself deeply engrossed in this book, trying to find out what happens next. The war time newspaper clippings provided the local perspective of the events of War World II, particular to the British and Western point of view.
.
I especially want to commend the author for her wonderful descriptions of the teens’ rare metaphysical gifts, from telepathy and clairvoyance to working with crystals and empathy. This is the subject that is very dear to my heart and I find that the author understands and feels what she is writing about on a very profound level – true, and fascinating to read about.
.
The main characters are interesting to read about, especially Daffodil, Jake and Santu. Besides, you can’t help but feel sorry for the ghosts and root for their salvation. There is profound humanity in how the author paints the ghosts’ touching protectiveness of each other and their ghosted animals. There are valuable lessons to be learned from this book. A great read – highly recommended!

..

GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) by Lada Ray

Category: action/adventure, historic mystery, spy thriller, romance, paranormal

Currently available on Amazon US  UK and other countries.
Coming in October to Smashwords, B&N, Kobo, Sony , Apple
Can also be purchased from Lada Ray Book Store (PDF)
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Ebook cover
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Paperback cover
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Nice Read, Adventures Abound!, September 18, 2012
Review by Jasper Snieder Format: Kindle Edition
..
Highly anticipated follow up adventure by novelist Lada Ray, Gold Train certainly delivers with dramatic thrills and spills. The action follows journalist Jade Snow as the sexy super sleuth goes international and unravels a potential conspiracy that may destroy the world. Truth, justice and the American way… superman can take lessons from this this reporter! Easily 5 stars all the way, highly recommend for all you politicos out there.
..
..

JAMES MADISON – The Father of the Constitution (1751 – 1836) by J.J. Collins

Category: non-fiction, history, biography
Available Paperback: Amazon US  UK
Ebook: Amazon US  UK
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James Madison - The Father of the Constitution (1751 - 1836)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring Read About the Proudest Moment of American History September 30, 2012 Review by Lada Ray Format: Paperback
..
With profound knowledge and great style, J.J. Collins sets out to explore the creation of the American Constitution and the birth of the American Republic, as well as the people behind these events. This is not a very long book, but it packs a wallop of information, at the same time managing to convey the feel, texture and attitudes of that era.
..
We get to meet not only James Madison himself, but also the other greats of American history: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, among others. The author takes us to the historic 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia where we witness first-hand the process of creation of the Constitution. The uncharted territory that was the American Constitution made it difficult to reconcile all the varying opinions and interests in order to arrive at one document, which would unite the whole country. James Madison and others were heavily influenced by the philosophy of the European Era of Enlightenment. In turn, the American Constitution would later become the symbol of freedom and the fight against tyranny in Europe and elsewhere.
..
Ironically, some of the most shameful moments of American history were also enshrined in the Constitution, including the justification of slavery and the fact that each slave was considered only 3/5 of a white man, as well as the creation of the Electoral College – the US Presidential Election’s unfair and archaic indirect voting system, which still persists today.
..
The book proceeds to describe the era of the British/French war, the French revolutionary wars starting at the end of the 18th century, a struggle for the USA to remain neutral to European conflicts, and the ever deepening bitter political divisions between Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans – the former revolutionary buddies. We follow James Madison’s life and career, from the post of the Secretary of State to being elected the fourth President of the United States, and later, to his death.
..
It was the era of great statesmen, not mere politicians, the kind of people we only wish we could see in the White House today. Their intellect, knowledge, erudition and profound concern for their country and fellow man – moderated with reason and wisdom – led them to create the foundation on which America functioned successfully for many years. They passionately debated the issues of individual’s rights, state vs. federal power, unjust enrichment, monopoly, separation of legislative and executive powers, establishment of a National Bank, and equitable taxation. They developed laws, which at that time in history resulted in the most advanced society on Earth. The creation of the American Constitution signified the US history’s proudest moment.
..
However, these men were also the children of their time: they held slaves and made constant efforts to forcefully convert the Native Americans into the white man’s way of life.
..
This book is especially timely today. As we slowly drift away from the principles that once made this country great in so many ways, it serves as an important reminder of things the Americans have conveniently forgotten. A highly recommended read for American history buffs and novices alike!
..
..

STEPFORD USA (Accidental Spy US Adventure) by Lada Ray

Category: action/adventure, psychological mystery/thriller, women sleuths, paranormal
Available: Amazon US  UK  and other countries
Coming in October to B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, Sony, Apple
Can also be purchased from Lada Ray Book Store (PDF)
..
Stepford USA (Accidental Spy US Adventure)
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5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling until the very end, September 30, 2012
Review by Mardi  Format: Kindle Edition
..
Jade Snow is an investigative journalist who has braved the hardships of such places as Afghanistan. When a `white knight’ leaps to save her, she quickly falls in love and gets pregnant. But this new development is about to change Jade forever. When her husband insists on moving her to the safety and isolation of Stepford, Jade characteristically finds a story to investigate.
..
But Jade is being watched… and the mysterious web begins to be woven – a clever simile made through Jade’s new involvement with the knitting club of Stepford. On discovering a horrific crime that has happened many years ago, Jade smells a rat: There are too many suspicious angles. Adding the fact that the victim is still alive but unable to converse, intrigue and mystique build.
..
This is a very enjoyable book with terrific characters and a clever storyline that conjurs truths from the imbedded lies and deceit of the higher echelons of Stepford. In a whirlwind of well crafted storytelling we experience Jade’s paranormal psychic visions and even venture into a virtual reality laboratory to discover that all is not as it seems.
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This novel makes clever observations on morality, class and perception with wonderful twists and turns that will surprise and intrigue.
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A purposeful puzzle, compelling until the very end. Looking forward to reading Lada Ray’s other novels.
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Wil K rated it 5 out of 5 stars A Goodreads review October 1, 2012
Enjoyable Read that Makes You Think
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If I had to compare it to other books, I’d say that Stepford USA reminded me of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, but lighter and easier to read. The book boasts a great balance of character development, action, mystery, beautiful setting, as well as a modicum of paranormal and romance. It is an enjoyable read, which will make you pause and think about things we take for granted and things we overlook, about what is important and what is not.
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……

The Templar Agenda by John Paul Davis

Category: historical mystery/thriller
Available on Amazon US  UK and other counties
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The Templar Agenda

…
5.0 out of 5 stars
Global Conspiracy, History, Murder – and the Knights Templar! September 17, 2012 Review by Lada Ray 
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When several, seemingly unrelated, high-profile murders shake up the world’s financial and political system, Swiss Guard Mikael (Mike) Frei is sent to St. Gallen to act as temporary bodyguard for Gabrielle Leoni, daughter of the murdered banker and great-niece of the Camerlengo. After the discovery of a 14th century diary left behind by Gabrielle’s father, which provides a dramatic insight into the cause of recent deaths, Mike and Gabrielle are forced to embark on a dangerous mission across Europe and the Atlantic: Mike, to ensure Gabrielle’s safety, and Gabrielle, to uncover the truth of her father’s death. Both are drawn into the global conspiracy that may endanger their lives, and in doing so they must attempt to uncover the identity of the murderers before they strike again.

The Templar Agenda is written by a historian, therefore many lush historical details about the ancient Order of the Templars and the Catholic Church are sprinkled throughout the narrative, which, being the lover of history, I personally enjoyed.

The story is well plotted and possesses an intoxicating mix of intrigue, ambiguity and seamless fusion of fact and fiction to keep the reader addicted to the next page. In addition to action, romantic tension and mystery, the reader is asked to consider certain serious questions: Are secret societies the force of good or evil? What are the consequences of actions that are deemed necessary by few, and how do these actions impact many?

The Templar Agenda is a rich, engaging, thrill-filled story, which will appeal to the lovers of history and the historical thriller genre.

..

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July 10: Last Chance to Download GOLD TRAIN Free!

07 Saturday Jul 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, Writing and Publishing

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

action adventure, Amazon Kindle, ebook, free promotion, Gold Train, Jade Snow Series, Moscow, mystery thriller, romantic suspense, Russia, Russian Empire, St Petersburg

ANNOUNCEMENT:

Mark your calendar!

GOLD TRAIN will be FREE on Amazon Kindle on July 10 for one day only!

Don’t miss it!

Updated July 9: See all buy links for US, UK, DE, ES, IT, FR below.

Dear readers and friends!

I will be saying goodbye to my participation in the Amazon KDP Select Program later this month.  Therefore, I’ve decided to use this last chance to thank you for your support by making GOLD TRAIN FREE for one day.

Image of Lada Ray

Amazon Buy Links: 

US    UK    DE    ES    IT    FR

Gold Train Description:

For the fans of The Da Vinci Code and Jason Bourne comes this gripping thriller based on true historic events!

1918: Civil War in Russia. The entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire vanishes without a trace. But what if it’s about to resurface? And what if it’s about to be used to shift the global balance of power?

TODAY: The world’s largest treasure; dangerous adventure; forbidden passion defying time and space; conspiracy threatening to plunge the country into darkness.

Jade Snow, international journalist and stay-at-home mom turned spy extraordinaire, travels to Russia to reconnect with the country of her ancestors and investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train. Instead, she is about to land in the middle of a deadly conspiracy threatening to change the fate of one of the world’s most powerful nations; and in the process, she is destined to meet a mysterious stranger who will change her life forever. When Jade’s only Russian friend gets murdered, she finds herself embroiled in a net of lies, glamour, intrigue and alien ideals. But running is not an option, as commitment to solve the murder and uncover the treasure makes her play the deadly game. Refusing to be a pawn in a struggle of forces beyond her control, Jade must choose between her worst friends and best enemies… and the future of the world just might depend on her choice!

Rated R for a couple of hot romantic scenes.

Click here to download!   

US    UK    DE    ES    IT    FR

July 10 Update

Current bestseller rankings are:

US: #160 Kindle Free; #6 Mystery/Women Sleuths; #7 Action & Adventure; #10 Mystery; #30 Mystery & Thrillers; #99 Fiction

UK: #261 Kindle Free; #8 Mystery/Women Sleuths; #12 Action &  Adventure; #33 Mystery; #57 Crime, Thrillers and Mystery

DE: #452 Kindle Kostenfrei; #2 Krimis (mystery); #5 Krimis & Thriller; #3 Action & Abenteuer

July 11 Update

Gold Train ended the day at #50 on Kindle Free Bestseller list; #58 on Amazon Books Free Bestseller list.

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GREEN DESERT (Jade Snow Prequel): Book Review by Author J.J. Collins

16 Saturday Jun 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Green Desert, Reviews

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

action adventure, anti-war, Author Lada Ray, Baghdad, book review, culture, Green Zone, gripping story, investigative journalist, Iraq, Iraqi war, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, Middle East, Mohammed Al-Tikriti, mystery thriller, prequel, Saddam Hussein, Sergeant William O'Shea, smart bomb, suicide bomber, terrorism, United States, US Occupation of Iraq, war

REBLOGGED from BooksReview4U Blog:

FIVE STAR Review by J.J. Collins

Green Desert by Author – Lada Ray, is an enthralling, captivating read. The author’s ability to take a topical subject and combine it with talented descriptive writing and creativity, always thrusts the reader into the very heart of her books.

Green Desert introduces us to daring investigative journalist – Jade Snow, and is set against the backdrop of the American forces occupation of Iraq. The author uses exceptional imagery throughout her story, to capture sheer mayhem and volatility of Baghdad, post the Saddam Hussein era.

The book has two central characters – Mohammed, a bright and ambitious young Iraqi man, who at the outset, harbours hopes to study in the West. On the other hand, we have the Oklahoman American soldier, Bill O’Shea, on his second tour of the country and missing his wife and family back home in the United States.

Jade witnesses the devastation of an explosion and the tragic aftermath of this unfortunate event takes us on the very real and moving journey, one filled with harsh realities and the subsequent very personal and real repercussions of war.

This journey is made all the more remarkable, as it is only after reading an unexpected hand delivered letter from a young boy in the street, that Jade can discover the hidden truth of these two men.

The letter allows Jade to use her investigative instincts to follow its contents in uncovering the truth, revealing the heart-wrenching pain and sacrifices of a young man caught in the middle of a war zone, trying his best to keep his family alive and safe. Only by tracing Mohammed’s story through the contents of the letter can Jade learn the truth about Sergeant William O’Shea.

This story will have you questioning the morality and justification of war, and what are the long term consequences of decisions to go to war. Is it a case of a “Rich Man’s” War and a “Poor Man’s fight?” or is it more a matter of a Western failure to understand Middle Eastern culture and their interpretation of freedom and democracy?

A powerful story in which Jade uncovers how two very different men are intrinsically linked, despite their national and cultural differences.

A gripping and entrancing  story.

Check out the Author’s website: http://www.LadaRay.com/

Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Desert-International-Adventures-Prequel-ebook/dp/B005O0QJKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339603465&sr=8-1

This review has been reblogged from BooksReview4U Blog by author and reviewer, J.J. Collins (London, UK)

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Update: THE EARTH SHIFTER, New YA Fantasy/Thriller

08 Friday Jun 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in My Updates

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

book, BOOK: Stepford USA, Catskill Mountains, EARTH SHIFTER, Gold Train, Green Desert, hiking, Moscow, my updates, mystery thriller, nature photography, New York, Rail Trail, Siberia, thriller, WordPress, writing, YA fantasy

The GOLD TRAIN blog tour, Stepford USA and Green Desert free promos, and life in general, have somewhat delayed the completion of THE EARTH SHIFTER, my new YA fantasy thriller. But I am getting back on track and have every intention of writing through the summer. THE EARTH SHIFTER release is scheduled for mid-September. So if I am MIA, you’ll know where to find me, namely, at my desk, typing away.

Picture

Note: This is only the preliminary cover

THE EARTH SHIFTER is set in Moscow, sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia, New York, China, as well as other mystical realms of this surreal Blue Planet. I will be posting updates of my progress, as well as the book’s synopsis and excerpts throughout the summer. To find out more about THE EARTH SHIFTER, please visit my author website http://www.LadaRay.com/the-earth-shifter.

I am also working on DRAGON GATE, the new Jade Snow Adventure set in Asia. It is currently set for release during the Holiday Season 2012.

The weather has been very nice, and I hope to also find the time to enjoy the great outdoors. We have pretty fabulous nature here, in the Catskill Mountains. I enjoy hiking on the local Rail Trail, a defunct rail road turned nature trail, looking for inspiration.

I’ve taken some fabulous photos, but since WordPress has been pretty uncooperative lately, it’s been difficult to post a lot of pics in one post, evidently, due to WordPress’ servers being overwhelmed. My husband’s verdict: they need more bandwidth. He should know, this is right up his alley. Perhaps, one day I’ll share as many great pics as possible. But today, here are just a few as a sampler. I think you are gonna love them!

Spring in the Catskills:

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STEPFORD USA, Jade Snow International Adventure #1, FREE on Amazon 5/29-5/30!

27 Sunday May 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Stepford USA, My Updates

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Amazon.com, cat mystery, Green Desert, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, knitting club, Massachusetts, murder, mystery thriller, New York, psychological mystery, rape, romance, Russia, Small American town, Stepford USA, Stepford Wives, suspense, The Berkshires, United States

5/31 quick update: STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT free promos are over. Over 3000 free copies of my books have been downloaded during the past few days and both books appeared on Kindle international bestseller lists. A million thanks to All for your interest and support! I wish all my readers a very happy reading and hope you enjoy my books! 🙂 Do remember to support your favorite authors by liking their books and contributing Amazon & Goodreads reviews!

This was the first time I’ve done the free promotion and I intend to share the results, my impressions (which are mixed at best), and thoughts on Kindle KDP Select program and the direction it’s taking, in a future post. For all the details/blurbs/book trailers/rankings see: STEPFORD USA post; GREEN DESERT post. I initially intended to include GOLD TRAIN in this free promo, but based on my impressions, I reconsidered it, at least for now. For more about that read my future post. For more about all my books see official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com

Read the original post below:

I am very pleased to announce that STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow International Adventure #1, is FREE on Kindle 5/29-5/30! Download your copy today!

Stepford USA (Jade Snow International Adventures Prequel)

Bestseller rank:

US: #193 Kindle FREE; #29 Mystery & thrillers; #9 Mystery; #8 Women Sleuths

UK: #358 Kindle FREE; #14 Mystery & Thrillers/ Women Sleuths

DE: #259 Kostenfrei Kindle; #5 Krimis & Thriller/ Krimis (mystery); #50 Populare Belletristik (popular fiction)

5 Star rated psychological mystery thriller, set in an idyllic Massachusetts town harboring a dark secret. Cool characters and setting, intense adventure full of surprising developments, amazing pets and humor! Check it out!

Here are the buy links:

Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005L36DG6

Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005L36DG6

Also FREE Amazon: DE   FR   ES   IT

Synopsis: Psychological mystery thriller, Jade Snow US Adventure. A cool play on The Stepford Wives, STEPFORD USA will dazzle you with an array of funny, outlandish, dangerous and utterly realistic characters. Who committed rape and murder: a corrupt police chief, crooked politician, millionaire-nerd, or womanizing banker?

FIVE STARS
“This exciting page-turner will have you guessing from the very beginning. Lada skillfully weaves many surprises into this psychological thriller. Her exquisite scene setting together with compelling dialogue makes Stepford USA a fascinating, if at times nail-biting, read. I highly recommend Stepford USA. Jade Snow is intelligent, warm and witty. Join her as she puts the pieces together and helps release a town from its dark, hidden past.” Jason Sullivan, Author, The Dark Yergall

FIVE STARS
“Psychological thrillers don’t get much better than this. Excitingly and yet chillingly gripping… plot line that surprises you at every turn and absolutely does not let you go.”  J.J. Collins, Author, Famine to  Freedom (UK)

FIVE STARS
“I enjoyed reading this uplifting book by Ms. Ray, filled with intrigue and irresistible characters.” Amazon review by a reader

FIVE STARS
“Very well written and gripping tale that will leave you guessing to the very end! Excellent storytelling!” Amazon review by a reader

Ladies from the Stepford Knitting Club know it all, except that the town has been hijacked by criminals posing as pillars of local community. That’s where Jade Snow comes in. A new breed of amateur sleuths and international journalist, she’s thoroughly at home in the brave, new, globalized world, but unprepared for one challenge – the dull existence in this sheltered American town. And that’s exactly where she ends up after getting married and pregnant. Aided by a super-intelligent calico cat and a psychoanalyst from New York, Jade’s on a mission to solve baffling mysteries, uncover a local conspiracy and turn this sleepy paradise upside down… if she can survive the attraction to an enigmatic convicted rapist, and the encounter with a desperate killer.
Warning: Contains enough suspense, psychology, mystical happenings, amazing pets, virtual reality, romance and humor to be a thrillingly delightful, yet dangerously sobering read.

Category: novel, psychological mystery/thriller
Word count: 69,800. Print pages 248

Check out Stepford USA Trailer!

Also by Lada Ray:
GOLD TRAIN: rip-roaring thrill-ride mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)
Green Desert: riveting story set in Iraq (Jade Snow Prequel)

Reminder: 5/28 is the last day to download GREEN DESERT for FREE! Check it out here!

NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow International Adventure Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the character development and plot twists.

For more about Lada, her books and current projects, visit LadaRay.com


Cheers and happy reading to all! 🙂

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GREEN DESERT, A Jade Snow Novella, FREE on Amazon 5/24-5/28!

24 Thursday May 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Green Desert, My Updates

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Amazon Kindle, Amazon.com, Baghdad, ebook, humor, Iraq, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, Jade Snow Novella, Lada Ray, mystery thriller, Russia, smart bomb, suicide bomber, thriller, United States, US Army, US Military

5/31 quick update: STEPFORD USA and GREEN DESERT free promos are over. Over 3000 free copies of my books have been downloaded during the past few days and both books appeared on Kindle international bestseller lists. A million thanks to All for your interest and support! I wish all my readers a very happy reading and hope you enjoy my books! 🙂 Do remember to support your favorite authors by liking their books and contributing Amazon & Goodreads reviews!

This was the first time I’ve done the free promotion and I intend to share the results, my impressions (which are mixed at best), and thoughts on Kindle KDP Select program and the direction it’s taking, in a future post. For all the details/blurbs/book trailers/rankings see: STEPFORD USA post; GREEN DESERT post. I initially intended to include GOLD TRAIN in this free promo, but based on my impressions, I reconsidered it, at least for now. For more about that read my future post. For more about all my books see official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com

Read all about the FREE PROMO below:

Exciting news!

Memorial Day Promotion:

GREEN DESERT is FREE on Amazon Kindle 5/24-5/28. Download today!

Here are the links:

Amazon US FREE: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005O0QJKQ

Amazon UK FREE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005O0QJKQ

Also FREE at Amazon: DE   FR   ES   IT 

Set in Iraq, this riveting short novella takes place prior to the start of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series.

 FIVE STARS:

“Riveting story with powerful message!” Meredith Carvin

FIVE STARS:

“This story will rock your world.”  Bill Tillman

International journalist Jade Snow travels to Iraq to shoot a documentary about the Iraqi insurgency. In Baghdad she, as usual, finds herself in the wrong place at just the right time. After witnessing a dramatic suicide bombing, and as two unlikely letters from the opposite sides of the conflict drop in her lap, Jade must trace the shocking connection between the suicide bomber, a young Iraqi girl and American sergeant killed in the attack.

A Jade Snow Prequel. Category: suspense, mystery/thriller

So far, GREEN DESERT has reached the following highest rankings on Kindle:

US: #1780 Free on Kindle; #26 in Mystery/thrillers/ women sleuths

UK: #760 Free on Kindle; #16 in Mystery/thrillers/ women sleuths

DE: #1283 on Kindle; #25 Krimis (Mystery); #31 Thriller

ES: #700 on Kindle; #9 Policiaca, negra y suspense (Mystery/thriller/suspense)

IT: #811 on Kindle; #11 Gialli e Thriller (Mystery & Thriller)

Also by Lada Ray:

GOLD TRAIN, rip roaring thrill-ride mystery thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow #2, Russia Adventure)
STEPFORD USA, psychological mystery thriller (Jade Snow #1, US Adventure)
NOTE: While each book in the Jade Snow Series stands on its own, it is advisable to read them sequentially to fully appreciate the plot twists and character development.

For more about Lada Ray’s books visit LadaRay.com

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The Cool, the Original and the Controversial

09 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, Reviews

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, author interview, Author Lada Ray, blog tour, book, Cold War, ebook, Gold Train, Jade Snow, May Day, mystery thriller, Russia, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union

The GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour is over and I wanted to thank all my wonderful blog hosts and reviewers for their hospitality, time and valuable opinions.

As a wrap up of the tour, I decided to feature some of the coolest, most original and controversial of the GOLD TRAIN review questions and interviews. I wanted to mention that I never met any of my reviewers before they read/reviewed my book. Some asked me to review GOLD TRAIN, others I approached myself, and some bought the book, read it and were gracious enough to write a review. Eventually, I became very good friends with some of my reviewers, sometimes despite differences, or because we had so much in common – or both!

I am immensely grateful to all those who took the time to read and review my books! The feedback I received has helped me not only understand better my own writing, but also aided me in shaping up the future world of my heroine, Jade Snow.

This interview is so different and fun, so stand alone, that I call it “The Centerpiece of the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour.” Author and blogger Jason Sullivan of DIFFERENT OUTCOMES blog interviewed me on May 1st, or May Day, as it is called and celebrated around the world. And we wanted to make this interview very, very special! It came out quite yummy, all thanks to Jason’s amazing questions: cool, in-depth and very unusual!

The interview includes a fun history primer of the Russian Civil War and a candid discussion about the fates of the descendants of Russia’s noble houses; a Russian/Soviet movie and book list; a chat about Jade Snow and what went into the creation of this unusual character; what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union and how May Day was celebrated in the USSR, as well as today’s Russia.

Included are also some awesome pics from another world – another era, and the story of my own thrilling Russian train adventure when my mother put me on the wrong train as a child.

Says Jason: “Luckily, the story has a happy ending due to the fact that the child in question was an intrepid thriller writer in the making.”

This is such a great interview, it is so chock-full of interesting, one-of-a-kind information – all thanks to Jason’s talent for asking terrific questions and for making his subject feel comfortable answering them! I HIGHLY recommend that you read it on Jason Sullivan’s blog DIFFERENT OUTCOMES! And I promise, you are gonna love it!

Review: 5 Stars – Solid Gold Thriller, February 18, 2012, by Jason Sullivan, Author, The Dark Yergall

This is an excerpt from Jason’s review of GOLD TRAIN. Read the entire review on his blog!

“If you enjoyed the charming young detective, Jade Snow, in Stepford, USA, you will absolutely love her next adventure in Gold Train… This thriller has it all! It has the two romantic locations of Moscow and St. Petersburg for its backdrop. It has real princes and princesses, who may or may not be undercover agents and spies. It has the whisperings of revolution, deepening international intrigue, plus beautiful trains and huge piles of gold!

Jade, however, is the real treat. She does not have super powers, nor even any formal training in the spy business, but she is daring, and clever, and her heart is always in the right place. She must rely on her intution to make choices her life, and world peace, depend on. Read Gold Train and be transfixed as Jade stays one step ahead of her adversaries through quick thinking and bold actions. This book is so believable it reads like a true story. Lada Ray takes you inside the grand houses of Russia to witness an unfolding mystery you will not soon forget.”

Next, a brand new review and May 4 blog tour stop by M.G. Edwards, Author of the new adventure book, Kilimanjaro.

This review is especially notable because Mike is a fellow writer residing in Thailand. What’s more, he is a former U.S. State Department official and American diplomat. I believe we both had started our careers well after the end of the Cold War, but if it happened earlier, we conceivably could have found ourselves on the opposite sides of the trenches, figuratively speaking of course. But no, not really. When I grew up in the Soviet Union, I was very far from politics, my interests lie abroad and I was very much critical of the direction the country was taking in the late 1980s – beginning of 1990s. For more on that, read my interview with Jason Sullivan at Different Outcomes Blog.

In today’s globalized world, Mike and I met on Twitter and became good friends, our “ideological differences” notwithstanding ;), once again demonstrating the fallacy of fighting instead of working together. And so, Mike’s review, bringing up a certain controversy, is very interesting. Below is an excerpt.

Review: 5 Stars -Gold Train is Golden, May 3, 2012.

Read the entire review and my guest post, Russia and I, at the WORLD ADVENTURERS blog.

“From the very first chapter, Lada weaves vivid descriptions of Russia and Russian culture into a story filled with thrilling suspense.

As someone with a keen interest in international affairs, I was happy to read the author’s unique portrayal of Russia, and in particular, Russian intelligence. So many western novels since the days of the Soviet Union have painted Mother Russia and the “Russians” as a nemesis, a stereotype that has continued, albeit muted, since the fall of the U.S.S.R. in 1991. Her account is a refreshing look at Russia today and a rare positive portrayal of the Russian authorities. While the truth may be different than her depiction, I give her high marks for originality. For Western audiences, it’s a new take on an old storyline usually reserved for Russia’s former Cold War foes. Her deep appreciation of Russian culture is apparent in her writing and translates well to readers. Lada does an excellent job navigating a subject that can be easily politicized — Russian politics – in a disarming way. Those with an eye for fashion will enjoy the exquisite descriptions of the trappings of European royalty.

I give Gold Train 5 stars overall. The novel includes all the elements of a novice spy-thriller masterpiece, from smart writing to a crisp plot that moves along with action and ties up loose ends, great plot twists, memorable characters, good dialogue, and fabulous descriptions. That said, it doesn’t achieve the threshold of greatness reserved for classic spy thrillers written by John LeCarré, Frederick Forsyth, and others. Perhaps, in time and another book, Jade will rise to the level of a Kay Scarpetta or Kinsey Millhone.”

I want to thank Mike for mentioning me in the same paragraph with John LeCarré, even if it was in a somewhat critical sense. In DRAGON GATE and the following books, Jade and I will strive to achieve the level of greatness of this Master of the genre. 😉 Although perhaps it should be considered that I am not trying to emulate past writers and that Jade is a new and original character with her own ideas of how to act and develop as her destiny unfolds.

On my end, I have to give Mike high marks too, for bringing up the point about Western novels painting Russia and the “Russians” as a nemesis. I felt that the field had gotten way too lopsided and that someone had to even it out, even if just a little bit. Might as well be me… The distortion has gotten so disproportionate in fact, that it fails to resemble the truth even remotely. Watching some of the Western movies, or attempting to read some of the Western books relating to Russia makes me cringe.

And I want to ask my readers this: do you even remember those negative movies or books you were fed by the US media? Do you recall their titles? Did they do well in the box office? Probably not. Because the truth has a very funny way of sorting itself out. But everyone will always remember the classics, for instance: Gorky Park, The Russians Are Coming, Read Heat, The Russia House, and a few others. Why? Because these authors/movie makers didn’t take an easy way out, and because they told the TRUTH.

Review: 5 Stars – Brilliantly Written – A MUST Read December 20, 2011: Hayley Sale, The  Kindle Book Review.

Hayley was Gold Train’s very first reviewer and I just loved how she managed to express so much – and so many thoughts that immediately resonated with me – in a relatively short review. I think her review speaks for itself! Below are a few excerpts:

“The plot lines… were brilliantly written and the story is just fantastic – there are layers that go deeper and deeper as we go along. I found that the way the author described the scenery and landmarks of Russia was just amazing – it made me want to go and visit myself. I was as interested in reading about the landmarks as I was about the actual storyline! This book had it all, not only a great mystery, and action but a little romance and even some humour. It really was superb, fast paced and well written. For me it was also one of those books that gets you thinking about things – even after you finish reading. I really hope that we get to hear more from Jade Snow and also Alexi.”

Hayley’s blog, MY LOVE OF READING was also a GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour stop on 4/29/12.  Here are a few excerpts that I especially liked:

How do you go about making the setting come alive for the reader?

I call creating the right setting: anchoring the story in the here and now. As such, I am a big believer in creating a beautiful, vibrant setting, which comes alive for the reader. It is extremely important to anchor the story in both the time and space, so that the reader can be actively present every moment inside the story and participate directly in everything that happens. A beautiful, stand out setting can sometimes make or break the story.

I certainly put a lot of effort into creating a setting that speaks to the reader, one that fascinates, entertains – and absolutely does not let you go. I usually visualize the place, as well as what is happening in the scene, as if in a movie. I play the movie in my head, until it translates into words. Sometimes I need to feel the texture, touch the scene, so to speak.

Since GOLD TRAIN is action adventure thriller, it has lots of action scenes. To make such action scenes come alive within the particular setting, I would usually re-enact them. Besides making the scene crisp and believable, this game is also lots of fun!

What’s next for Jade Snow?

Jade Snow adventures continue! There are many more mysteries to solve, conspiracies to uncover and wrongs to right. There is also much happiness to find.

The next Jade Snow adventure, DRAGON GATE, will take her to the mystical lands of Asia where Jade has to solve another mystery, uncover another conspiracy and avert yet another global disaster. DRAGON GATE will be released later this year. Incidentally, you can read exclusive description and excerpt from DRAGON GATE in GOLD TRAIN Paperback (release 4/25/12). For a limited time, GOLD TRAIN paperback is available on Amazon for $9.99 (reg. $14.95)

Will we see Alexei, the mystery man who captures Jade’s heart in Gold Train, in the future Jade Snow Adventures?

Absolutely! The relationship between Jade and Alexei is the kind both men and women dream about their entire lives. A match made in Heaven – literally. Yet seemingly, it’s not meant to be, or at least, it’s not going to be easy…

But I’ll let you in on my secret. I have big plans for both Jade and Alexei. They can’t help but keep bumping into each other, first in Asia (DRAGON GATE), and later in Siberia, Russia, where Jade will be traveling after her Asia adventure. I have hinted in Gold Train that there is more treasure to be found. That was done for a reason, as Jade and Alexei will head to the legendary Lake Baikal in Siberia for the continuation of the Tsar’s gold saga. And their relationship will continue developing throughout the series with heart-stopping twists and turns throughout.

Dear reader, please join us for the future Jade Snow adventures, where Jade and I promise you a non-stop thrill ride with heart!

What other books are you working on right now?

I am also working on THE EARTH SHIFTER, a new YA fantasy/thriller, set in Russia, USA and China. It will also be released in 2012.

All up-to-date information about my present and future books may be found at my official author site: http://www.LadaRay.com.

Read Hayley’s review of Gold Train and the entire interview here!

5 Stars – Jade Snow is to journalism, what Jason Bourne is to action and espionage. December 29, 2011.  J.J. Collins, Author, Famine to Freedom, Irish in the American Civil War. 

I initially approached Jason Collins – now my favorite Irishman residing in London – regarding a review because he wrote about the history of the American Civil War. And there is a lot about the Russian Civil War in Gold Train. I thought it would be great to get his perspective. And his review totally exceeded my expectations! When he mentioned Jason Bourne, one of my great favorites in the contemporary thriller literature and film, I was blown away! It never occurred to me to compare Jade to Jason Bourne, but it made perfect sense!

And his comparison brought home an important point. Don’t try to tell your readers what other books yours resonates with; let them decide for themselves. So I removed a reference to The Da Vinci Code and National Treasure from the GOLD TRAIN’s product description. Since then, the reviewers took it upon themselves to compare Jade and GOLD TRAIN to Jason Bourne, Sherlock Holmes, Nancy Drew (the adult version), and even to Twilight (with a pulse and a Vodka twist)!

Jason Collins’ review makes a lot of great points. Here are some of them:

“The author has managed to develop a character with a fascinating thoughtful purpose. “Gold Train” is an absolute must read, the author goes beyond the obvious and whisks us along into the heart-stopping world of Jade Snow with breath-taking appeal for the next paragraph and page. The author’s knowledge and comprehension of the Russian political scene brings a very credible and believable level of authenticity to the plot.”

Read this terrific review, along with Jason’s review of the Jade Snow Prequel, Stepford USA here!

5 Stars – A Race for Gold! December 30, 2011, Kate’s Reads

A review excerpt by the lovely Kate:

“Gold Train is a fast paced thrill ride filled with great characters you will love and villains you will hate. And maybe a few you won’t know whether to love or hate. This is definitely one to read!”

Kate’s stop along the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour route was on 4/28. Read the entire interview and review here. Here is an excerpt:

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you decided to be a writer.
 
When I decided to start writing, I wrote My Manifesto, in which I pretty much summarized the answer to this question:
 
MY MANIFESTO
 
For years, I was afraid to take a risk. As we all grow up being conditioned by our society and parents, so did I.
 
And this was my conditioning: I broke through the Iron Curtain, moved across oceans and continents, traveled to exotic countries, translated foreign languages, worked for major companies and mastered new professions… but in all that time I was utterly terrified to do something totally unchartered and intimidating – sitting down and writing a book.
 
My fear is gone. I’ve done my share of the same-old-same-old routine! It’s time to explore that which is aching to be explored – the murky waters of the human psyche, the dangerous landscapes of what was, and the fascinating, undiscovered world of what can be. As I make the most crucial and courageous step of my life, I am finally sitting down at my desk to write these words. I am officially the explorer of the ultimate frontier, located right here, at my computer.
I am ready for new adventures! Are you?
March, 2011
 

5 Stars – Review for Rachel’s Book Reviews, February 18, 2012

Check out this cool and witty review from one super-talented teenager:

“Based on actual events, I found it an amazing book. I felt like it was true to Russia, like I was actually there, spying on uprising monarchists. If I were to make a comparison, I would say it reminded me of Nancy Drew, always in the right place at just the wrong time. Except this is an adult version. On top of breakneck action, the ending blew my socks off. I really wasn’t expecting that to happen! It was 100% an original book. It’s even inspired me to learn Russian (that’ll be an adventure in itself!) Like Jade I think it’ll give me new insight to people in my family I never knew. (although, here’s to hoping it won’t involve a murder!)”

A few more review excerpts from the Gold Train readers:

5 Stars – by Madeline Walsh, New York, December 21, 2011: “In Gold Train, I think everyone will find mystery, suspense, action, passion, romance… and an amazing timeless story!”

5 star spy thriller, grips you to the end! March 17, 2012: “The protagonist, Jade Snow is a strong, independent journalist with international appeal. Her intuition, ability to reason and deductive prowess rivals the great Sherlock Holmes. This has got to be one of the coolest, most explosive and passionate novels I read in a very long time! The novel is very well written. I can’t say enough about it… has you hanging on the edge of your seat! Read it and you’ll see what I mean!”

5 Stars – Extreme Journalism to the MAX, totally original mystery adventure,  May 3, 2012: “I’ve learned a ton about the real treasures of Russia… it’s people and it’s vision… Absolutely love it!!”

Check out these and other reviews on Amazon.

4 Stars – Suspense thriller with Russia as its backdrop, March 8, 2012, Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

This review stirred up a bit of controversy:

“Jade is a bright likeable character. She is educated and good at connecting the dots. While she has no training as a detective, her inquisitive mind and investigative reporting skills find her entwined in the mystery. I loved Jade the detective, but struggled to like Jade the person. While on this adventure she strays and breaks her marriage vows. Call me old fashioned, but this doesn’t sit well with me; even though the romance was passionate and Jade felt he was her soul mate. I realize this won’t affect everyone, so do not let this deter you from a great adventure. For more delicate readers, I must warn you that while most is implied, the romance does get pretty hot and heavy. The plot developed at a good pace, and the tale kept me captivated.”

I’ve addressed the controversy in question in one of my previous posts: Jade Snow: Savior or Seductress. Check it out!

Kimba also was gracious enough to host my blog tour on 5/3 as well as the Giveaway for 1 Gold Train paperback and 1 ebook. Check out both at Kimba The Caffeinated Blog.

Kimba asks some really COOL questions and here is an excerpt from our interview:

Your novels take place all over the world. Do you travel or do you research all of these places?

I traveled all my life, for as long as I can remember. I am fluent in several languages and have been to over twenty six countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as Africa. I worked in Havana, Cuba as an interpreter for the Russian educational exchange delegations, including a couple of interviews with the man himself – Fidel Castro.
 
I rely heavily on my memory and knowledge of a particular place and period. But in addition, I always do a lot of research to verify and clarify the smallest details. That’s what makes every scene come alive, and that’s what makes the book believable.
 
Tell us about your protagonist, Jade Snow.
 
My books are very international and I am a big believer in capturing life in all its complexity and facets. Jade Snow is a very strong, independent, smart and sexy heroine. She is also a citizen of the world and her heart is always in the right place, as one reviewer pointed out. She has to go through a lot and get tested to the limit during her adventures.
I can’t emphasize enough how much our contemporary literature needs the smart and strong female characters and role models who are also real, genuine people. And how much we need more people with intelligence, courage and heart in our everyday lives! In the new world of the 21 century, we have to learn to live and work together, regardless of prejudices and borders, to understand each other and help those in need, whether it is by saving a stranger’s life, averting global disaster, or by a simple act of random kindness.
 
Where do you like to write? Do you have a writing schedule?
 
I prefer to write at my large and comfortable writing table at home, in my room full of books and inspiring pictures. Sometimes I write at a café.
I don’t keep to a certain schedule, but if I don’t write for a while, I feel as if something is missing in my life.
 
What actress would you choose to portray Jade Snow?
 
Several years ago I’d say: Nicole Kidman. But today… she’d be too old. Jade is a very youthful 30 in Gold Train and she’s 28 in Stepford USA.
I would choose Keira Knightley. She has the right character and personality and can play someone smart, witty, sexy, independent, courageous, a dash tricky and a little vulnerable, too. Of course, she’d have to become a redhead. 😉
 

Coffee or tea?

Great question! Both actually. Love the coffee aroma, especially Turkish or authentic Italian. Tea: I have a great collection of authentic green teas from China, India and Japan at home. Every writer needs a boost! Inspiration and caffeine are practically siblings!

If you had to be an animal for twenty-four hours, what would you be and why?

Ahhh… I’d be an Ussurian Tiger. The largest cat in existence, the most beautiful and the most rare. Found only in one spot on the planet: Ussurian Taiga, the Russian Far East. Was on the brink of extinction with only 29 tigers left just ten years ago, but now the population is up to 500. Like all cats, has an amazing night vision.

Or, I’d be a white eagle. Love the color, plus the ability to soar high and see everything from above. Both of these magnificent creatures take part in my upcoming YA fantasy/thriller, THE EARTH SHIFTER, to be released in 2012.

What kind of reader would like your novel?

Gold Train is for the fun loving, dynamic, adventurous people, who have open minds and are interested in the world around them, as well as foreign lands.

For those who love a fast-paced thrill ride with a purpose. For those who love history, sleuthing and mysteries, who are naturally curious, who want to immerse themselves in the story line and feel, like they are part of the action. And it is for those, who expect more from a story.

It’s also for those who love animals and mystical, psychic stuff, yet, are firmly grounded in this world. And for those, who care what happens in our world and who want to improve it.

Although the thriller side of the story dominates, let’s not forget that Gold Train, along with the other Jade Snow Adventures, has a strong romantic undercurrent. Therefore, those who are interested in romantic suspense, will also find Gold Train a compelling read. My way of writing romance is anything but traditional. The relationship between Jade and Alexei is marked by destiny, and I hope the reader enjoys it.

I again want to thank all my reviewers and interviewers for their wonderful and thoughtful reviews and interviews! I enjoyed them tremendously!

Check out the complete GOLD TRAIN BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE!

Check out GOLD TRAIN Ebook and Paperback on Amazon.

GOLD TRAIN is also available on Amazon UK, DE, FR, IT and ES, as well as Smashords, B&N, Sony, Kobo and Apple.

Please check out Lada Ray Book Store for direct links.

For those readers, who inquired about purchasing my books directly, or those who don’t have access to Amazon, I will soon have a book store on my website, where you’ll be able to acquire my books in both ebook and print format via Paypal.
.
Happy reading and see you on pages of my books!
 
Yours,
Lada Ray

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My Beautiful Nature Walk

06 Sunday May 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: USA, My Updates

≈ Comments Off on My Beautiful Nature Walk

Tags

Amazon, Author Lada Ray, beauty, book giveaway, book reviews, Catskill Mountains, E-book, Gold Train, mystery thriller, nature photography, nature walk, New York, paperback, photography, Rail Trail, Soviet Union, Twitter, Upstate NY, YouTube

This post features original photography by author Lada Ray. 

First, a few quick announcements: Today, May 6, is the last day of the GOLD TRAIN  BLOG TOUR, and I want to thank all my gracious blog hosts and readers for a truly wonderful experience! I enjoyed all the interviews, reviews and new friendships very, very much!

Today is also the end of the GOLD TRAIN Giveaway on Lada Ray Blog. Giving away 2 Gold Train ebooks. This is the last chance to participate! Please check it out here! Two lucky winners will be announced at 8 p.m. tonight on this blog and on Twitter. I’ll also send both winners Twitter DMs with further instructions.

Finally, today is the last day to download GOLD TRAIN ebook on Amazon for $0.99 or the European equivalents. Tomorrow, the price will be $2.99 (reg. $3.99) – Mothers Day Sale. Buy ebook here.

GOLD TRAIN paperback is now on sale for only $9.99 till May 13 as Mothers Day Promotion. Regular price is $14.95. Buy GOLD TRAIN paperback here.

Happy reading and see you on pages of my books!

Now, without further ado, today’s post:

Sunday. Today, I was supposed to post my new piece, FACT AND FICTION IN GOLD TRAIN… but something in me rebelled against that. So I decided that I would do this very important article on May 12, as a follow up to the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour. Also, another follow up, THE COOL, THE ORIGINAL AND THE CONTROVERSIAL, will appear on this blog on 5/9.  See the GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour Schedule.

But today… the sun is shining brightly, the air smells like honey and freshly cut grass. So, my husband and I decided to get our camera and embark on a lovely nature adventure instead. We are surrounded by some wonderful nature here, in the Western Catskills. And it’s actively awakening now. Spring comes late to the northern NY State, but finally it’s here! My goal is to capture on camera its joyful awakening!

In keeping with the GOLD TRAIN theme, we decided to take the Rail Trail, a defunct rail road turned walking nature trail, which connects many towns in our area.

I am inviting you to share our today’s nature walk! Enjoy the images I’ve captured along the way, including the giant fields of sunny dandelions, the beautiful horses, graceful geese, local farms and colorful chickens, and of course, the mountains.

This is just a primer. I will be doing a bigger post: Spring in the Catskills, and a YouTube video later. Stay tuned!

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GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour Centerpiece: May Day Interview

02 Wednesday May 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: Russia

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, author interview, Dr. Zhivago, Gold Train, Jade Snow, May Day, Mikhail Bulgakov, Moscow, mystery thriller, Russia, Russian literature, Russian Revolution, Saint Petersburg, Soviet Union

GOLD TRAIN Blog Tour continues! Today please enjoy a very special interview, which I call The Centerpiece of the Gold Train Blog Tour.

Don’t forget to check out other awesome blog stops, Gold Train reviews and giveaways here!

Reblogged from Different Outcomes blog by author Jason Sullivan:

May Day Interview with Lada Ray, author of Gold Train

LADA 3

Today I would like to welcome linguist and writer Lada Ray to the Different Outcomes blog. She is here to discuss her new exciting thriller Gold Train. Perhaps she might also share with us a little about her fascinating life growing up in Russia.

Jason: I would prefer to ask a few somewhat atypical questions, which might give you the possibility of going deeper into them. The areas that fascinate me, although the whole book is so wonderfully exciting, are the following:

The White Army connection with modern Russia, its historical background and current association with other countries, is very interesting. I fear most Americans have a very superficial understanding of the Russian Revolution, and especially the White Army. I always remember the scene from Dr Zhivago when they are crossing a field and are ambushed! In your book you obviously have a more complex and, I think I may say, holistic approach to this conflict. Perhaps not dissimilar to how some Americans have come to view their own Civil War as an opportunity to move beyond differences, although some are still fighting it! But you put forth this sense of pride in Russia, in wanting a healthy Russia which has healed from past conflicts and which is not manipulated by foreign interests. So, I don’t know if that is all one question, or maybe more, but generally, maybe you could share some more with us this unique sense we get in the book, perhaps possible only from an author born in Russia!

GOLD GT COVER ebook

Lada: These are some wonderful questions, Jason, and I’ll try answering them, remaining as entertaining and educational as possible.

I love your definition of my approach to the conflict as “holistic.” I think, most Russians have come to view it as such, having made peace with it and having been able to understand both sides’ point of view. A huge credit for this goes to the educational value of the Soviet and Russian literature and film. These topics, especially the Civil War, are perennial favorites in Russia.

During the Soviet era, more emphasis was put on the role of the Red Army, but starting with the mid 1980’s, when Gorbachev came to power, more attention was given to the White movement. That said, the books written/movies made during the Soviet era did a great job portraying the conflict thoughtfully and evenhandedly.

I grew up with many amazing movies and books, and Dr. Zhivago was only one of them. An excellent book, to be sure, and the one that had a profound effect on the Western society, but hardly the only, and some even think, not even the best in the long line of books/movies about the Russian Civil War. The books/movies I am talking about all portrayed the conflict in a rather balanced way, even if they sided with the Red Army and Bolsheviks ideologically. The human element, motivations, depth of drama – all that was amazingly done.

I think, due to the politics and the wall that existed, and to the extent still does exist between the American and Russian cultures, Americans have a very distorted understanding of the history and implications of the 1917 Revolution and Civil War. I have to say that on average the Europeans and the rest of the world have a much better comprehension of the Russian history.

I want to mention a few movies and books, which come to mind immediately when we talk about the subject – all great in their own right. These are the classics, and those who have an interest in Russian history will find them not only enlightening, but also immensely entertaining. If you can find any of these with English subs or translation, they are well worth watching or reading. I suggest checking out YouTube, you never know what treasures you may uncover there. As to the books, the English translations  of these classics should be readily available.

Soviet Books/Movies:

Movie Beg – The Flight, 1970. Based on the play by Mikhail Bulgakov, Flight. A dramatic and memorable epic about destinies and emigration to Istanbul and Paris of several senior officers and other White Russians during the Civil War. The characters are painted with profound humanity. Great cast, too!

Movie Dni Turbinykh – Days of The Turbins, 1976. Based on the highly acclaimed novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, The White Guard. One of my favorites growing up, boasting tremendous cast of actors. Also about the destinies of several White Russians with different personalities and views. Resolves the conflict in favor of staying in Russia, rather than emigrating. The movie is worth watching not only for the drama and character development, but also for humor and great songs.

As an aside, Mikhail Bulgakov is widely recognized as one of the great authors and visionaries of the 20th century. I also highly recommend his mega-popular, cult book: Master and Margarita. Set in the 1930’s Moscow, it is a dark fantasy about a writer and his trials and tribulations against the backdrop of the Stalinist Russia, his forbidden romance with Margarita, complicated by the appearance of the Devil himself. But that’s not all; inserted within the novel is the story of life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Part of the book takes place in mystical realms of Heaven and Earth. The imagery and philosophy of the book is incredibly striking. It is available in English, moreover, the recently made wonderful mini-series based on Master and Margarita can be purchased on Amazon with English subs. You can probably also sample it on YouTube.

But back to the Russian Civil War: TV Series Adyutant Evo Prevoskhoditelstva – Adjutant of His Excellency, 1969. An excellent mini series about a Red/Soviet spy, who infiltrated the headquarters of the White Army and became personal adjutant to the commander in chief. Needless to say, he was able to thwart some major operations by the Whites, until he was discovered. To add to the drama, the spy, beautifully portrayed by the famous Russian actor, Yury Solomin, falls in love with the daughter of the chief security officer of the White Army, the man who is constantly on his trail. Plus, the series includes some great train action, where a very valuable train, containing advanced tanks and machinery, sent by the West for the Whites, gets blown up! Couldn’t have written it better myself!

Tikhiy Don – And Quiet Flows The Don. Both a book and epic movie about the role of Cossacks in the 1918 Civil War, some of whom sided with the Whites and others with the Reds. An absolute classic of the Soviet literature by Mikhail Sholokhov. For years, Soviet literature had been shunned by the Nobel Prize Committee for political and ideological reasons. Pity, there were many works that deserved to be considered and awarded. Mikhail Sholokhov was one of the few Russian authors who, along with Boris Pasternak, author of Dr. Zhivago, received the Nobel Prize for literature.

Recent Russian Movie:

Moi Admiral – My Admiral, 2008. Starring Konstantin Habensky, known in the West for his acclaimed role in Night Watch and Day Watch, dark fantasies, set in today’s Moscow. Moi Admiral is about the famous leader of the White Movement, Admiral Kolchak, his life, romance and drama. Kolchak was eventually betrayed by the Tsar’s Army Czech Corps who initially sided with the Whites, but eventually handed Kolchak over to the Reds who ended up executing him. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but it received some tremendous press.

I want to let you in on my secret. I wasn’t planning on announcing it just yet, but since we are on this topic, I thought I’d give my readers a sneak peek of what’s to come in the Jade Snow Series. As you may know, this year I will be releasing the next Jade Snow adventure – DRAGON GATE, set in Asia. But after that, in Jade’s third adventure, she will head back to Russia, specifically, to the legendary Lake Baikal in Siberia, for the continuation of the Tsar’s Gold saga. Incidentally, the story of Admiral Kolchak and his betrayal by the Czech Corps is intrinsically connected to the treasure. I’ll say no more so not to spoil the surprise… and I am planning lots of those in the following books!

Jason: Another aspect of the book, which fascinates me is your opening, it is so wonderfully written, where the train is pirated. You also feature beautiful modern trains and stations in Russia. And then we hear you have personal experience because your father worked for the train system in Russia. I love trains! I think everyone does. They are so romantic! So anything you might think of with regard to your inside perspective or childhood memories of trains. Is the great gold robbery the most infamous of Russian train stories? Are there other famous train stories in Russia that you might relate? What sort of role did trains play in the history of Russia? And, also, and this might be the most interesting to readers, what specific memories might you share about riding through the Russian countryside and into the cities by train? What was it like, what were the passengers like, any exciting moments?

Lada: The trains had always played a huge role in the Russian history. Unlike in the USA, historically, the Russian roads had been in pretty bad condition and the auto industry hadn’t developed to the extent it has in the USA. Although Russia is a major power in aeronautics, civil aviation had lagged and is only now starting to mature. Moreover, due to the vastness of the country’s landmass with seas surrounding it, the ships had been important, but not universally usable.

That left trains and related vehicles as the primary source of transportation. Russia inherited the Soviet public transportation system, which was very well developed and maintained. Within smaller cities, you had a comprehensive network of trams and trolleys (trolleybus), aided by some bus traffic (usually for longer express journeys). In larger cities, primarily Moscow and St. Petersburg, the most popular mode of transportation was, still is (and probably will always be) the truly one-of-a-kind Russian Metro. Moscow Metro, in addition to being a beautiful underground architectural miracle, is also the second busiest metro in the world, after Tokyo’s Twin Cities metro, carrying 8 million passengers a day. St. Petersburg Metro, considered by some to be even more beautiful, and the world’s deepest, is also the 5th busiest on the planet. The Russian Metro is featured in Gold Train, including one of the most dramatic episodes of the book.

For connections between cities and suburbs, people normally use local diesel and electric trains, called “Electrichka.” And for long-distance travel, regular trains, expresses, and lately, high-speed trains. Sapsan, the high-speed train, connecting Moscow and St. Petersburg, is featured in Gold Train as well.

Three generations of the Russian Trains:

 Old Soviet Locomotive

 Traditional Nokolayevsky Express, Moscow – Saint Petersburg, the one Jade rode in Gold Train (named after the last Russian Tsar Nicolas)

 High-speed train Sapsan featured in Gold Train

Of course, the challenge now is to transition this very comprehensive, well-oiled, but aging system into the 21st century, preserving its heritage, yet innovating it to suit tomorrow’s needs.

Just like you, Jason, I love trains and could talk about them for ages. For now I’ll be getting off my soapbox.

To answer your question about the robbery of the Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire in 1918. Let’s remember that GOLD TRAIN, although based on real historic events, is a book of fiction and the events as described in the prologue are a product of my imagination or are used fictitiously, according to the disclaimer on the book’s copyright page. There are many theories as to how the Gold Reserve really disappeared and there is no consensus to this day as to what happened to the treasure. We can definitely say that more than one train was involved.

I hinted in GOLD TRAIN that there is more treasure to be found. This hint was made for a reason. As mentioned earlier, I intend to explore this story further, when Jade together with Alexei, travels to Lake Baikal in Siberia during her third adventure.

Were there any other famous events related to trains in the Russian history? During the Civil War, trains were attacked and robbed regularly. Let’s remember that in addition to the main opposing forces in that conflict, the Whites and the Reds, there was a rainbow of different factions – the Greens (this was the color used by the bandits and robbers, not the Green Party), The Blacks (anarchists), and even The Yellow-Blues (I’m not kidding – these were the Ukrainian nationalists).

The bandits and so many others just wanted to capitalize on the general disorder, confusion and misfortune, and robberies of peaceful passenger trains were frequent, reminiscent of the Wild West page in the US history.

After the war ended and order in the county was restored, very few robberies took place due to tough law enforcement. Of course during World War II, lots of Russian treasures were looted by the Nazis from the museums and taken to Germany and some other countries. The most famous of them is the looting of the legendary Amber Room, considered by some to be the Eight’s Wonder of the World. It was stolen from Catherine Palace near St. Petersburg and its whereabouts are unknown to this day.

For more about this, read my post on Lada Ray Blog: Tsars, Oligarchs and Treasure: St. Petersburg, Russia.

When I grew up in Russia, the travel on trains, or any other mode of transportation was 100% safe. Robberies were unheard of. Even petty crime was rare. I remember once, the crime of the year was that someone was snatching fur hats from people’s heads. The culprits were eventually apprehended and the “wave of hat snatching” had stopped.

I was born in Moscow, but grew up in Odessa, on the Black Sea, where both of my parents worked for the Southern Railways. My father did financial/legal audits and traveled a lot; my mother’s job description was to sit at the headquarters and regulate railroad’s traffic for any given sector. I remember as a child visiting her huge office with tall ceilings and soundproof walls (so that she wouldn’t get distracted when she was on duty, as a single mistake on her part could cause a collision). The office was large enough to do cartwheels in. On the wall she had an enormous map of the entire Southern Railroad, dotted with glittering lights, signifying passing trains, signals and intersecting tracks. All this looked awfully important. 😉

On long-distance trains, there are 3 main classes: 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I normally rode 2nd class, as it was free for me. I took 1st class only when I was with my father, who due to his job had free 1st class tickets.

Second class sleeper coupe, or compartment, has 4 bunk beds on two levels, with upper bunks pulled up during the day, luggage compartments and a foldable table in the center. The trains usually have nice rugs in corridors and compartments and are very clean and cozy.

The beds have mattresses, pillows and fresh linens and are quite comfortable to sleep in. First class has 2 bunk beds, which turn into plush sofas during the day. Each 1st and 2nd class compartment has a door, which can be locked for privacy. 3rd class has no doors and there are 6 bunks per unit – two of them next to the corridor. 3rd class doesn’t have any rugs, plus there is no privacy at all. The whole carriage would usually buzz all day long as people chat, sing songs and play guitar. It’s certainly much more sociable – and much cheaper. Many younger people would travel 3rd class to save money.

Russians love feeling cozy and comfortable on long-distance trains. They usually bring a pair of slippers and even robes and pajamas to change into. Russian trains provide tea in traditional thin glasses in silver holders or in porcelain cups as part of their service. I have the fondest memories of these tea glasses in silver holders. The scene in Gold Train, when Jade rides the overnight express from Moscow to St. Petersburg echoes my childhood memories.

As part of my parents’ job perks, they always had free train tickets, which I’ve always put to good use. I traveled ever since I can remember, often alone. I was always an adventurer at heart and staying put in one place wasn’t for me. It was so safe to ride a train to another city even as a ten or twelve year old, that I often did just that.

My uncle and aunt lived in Bendery and my much older cousin Sasha (Alexander) in Kishinev (Chisinau), Moldova. Currently, these two cities are located in different countries, as Moldova split in two parts after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. I loved visiting my relatives and did that ever since I was eleven. My mother would usually take me to the station and put me on the train. Two hours later in Bendery, I would jump off the train, walk two blocks to my uncle and aunt’s house and surprise them. Then, my aunt Zeena would usually dial my mother and admonish her for letting me travel without any supervision. My kindly Uncle Vasya and Aunt Zeena never managed to get used to the level of my independence.

Once, my mother put me on the train to visit my older cousin Vera, who lived in Nikolayev, a city about four hours east of Odessa. Nikolayev was one of the Black Sea’s Soviet fleet bases, where Vera’s husband was a naval officer. It was the first time I was traveling to that particular city, as my relatives had only recently moved there. I was about twelve at the time. Vera and her husband were supposed to meet me at the train station.

It was late afternoon and my mother was late for work. Feeling distracted, she put me on the wrong train. I knew that I would be in Nikolayev by eight thirty p.m. and Vera’s husband would be waiting for me on the platform. I realized that something was wrong when the train made its final stop at some tiny, godforsaken station in the middle of nowhere and the last two passengers quickly dismounted and disappeared into the darkness stretching beyond the single light illuminating the tiny platform. It was past nine p.m.

The small station building was dark. Obviously, the staff left for the day. I realized immediately that I was, for lack of a better word, screwed. Now, let’s remember, it was well before cell phones.

Thank goodness for my sharp reflexes. As the train was preparing to leave and the conductor, an indifferent-looking woman, was about to snap the train door shut, I dashed to her and explained the situation. She said that the train was going to the depot, some ten kilometers away, and there was nothing she could do. Turned out, my mother (the big train specialist that she was) had not only put me on the wrong train, but also on the train going in the wrong direction. As a result, I was nowhere near Nikolayev. Before long, the whole crew was gathered around, trying to figure out what to do with me. I decided not to tell them who I really was so they wouldn’t start fussing, or god forbid, put me on the train back home. I wanted to continue with my adventure.

Someone remembered that another train would pass this station shortly. It wasn’t an express and it would make all local stops, but it would get me to Nikolayev. I waited on the dark, deserted platform, and lo and behold, thirty minutes later a train did stop. It was indeed headed towards Nikolayev, but there was a problem. I didn’t have enough for the ticket. My mother gave me a few rubles for the road, but since I was to be met by my loving cousin’s family, who was supposed to take care of all my expenses, she didn’t bother giving me any more.

The conductor looked at me and said that I should put my money away. She gave me a seat in the third class compartment and brought some tea (again for free) in that same thin, gold-rimmed glass set in the traditional Russian silver holder, which I always remember with warmth. The scene that I experienced many times in my life – the conductor (stewardess) bringing tea in a glass with silver holder – is described in Gold Train.

I drank tea and munched on cookies the other passengers in the sociable 3rd class shared with me. The train arrived to Nikolayev at dawn. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the main train station, but the auxiliary one, located very far from the city itself. I went around, asking people how to get to the center of the city. They said that trolley traffic started at six. I waited till six and boarded the first trolley. It took me almost an hour to get to the city center.

There was another problem, which would have stumped anyone – but not me. When my mother so infamously put me on the wrong train, no one bothered to provide me with my cousin’s address. Because, well, because it was assumed I didn’t need one, since my relatives would be meeting me at the station. Thank goodness for my memory. I happened to catch a quick glimpse of that address when my mother was handling it earlier and I miraculously managed to remember it.

While on the trolley, I started asking other passengers where the 5th Greenhouse Drive might be. I am not kidding, this was the name of the street! Of course, as you can imagine, no one had the faintest idea where such street was to be found. But I persevered. Finally, one man said that he thought that I should get off on the next stop and walk a few blocks. I took a chance and got off. As I walked, I kept asking passersby and little by little I was directed to the right street. I walked along the narrow, hidden alley and located my cousin’s house. I knocked on the door, which was opened by Igor, my disheveled looking cousin in law, followed by similarly disheveled Vera. Both didn’t sleep all night. It turned out, the entire railroad, as well as local police, were searching for me, task made ever more difficult by the fact that my mother forgot which train she put me on. When I knocked, my cousin thought it was the police with news. The room was full of smoke, as Igor, who had recently quit, started smoking again to settle his nerves.

Needless to say, everyone was immensely relieved that I was okay. I think I became a minor legend in my circles, as everyone asked me to recount my adventures over and over again. And of course, going forward, I made sure I had all the emergency information at my disposal whenever I traveled.

This is just one of my little railroad adventures. There are many more, but that is another story altogether.

Jason: Jade Snow is a magnificent character, so smart, sexy and fearless! She is such a real character, I think the reader gets a very strong sense for Jade and immediately likes her, will follow her anywhere. I think part of this, as well, is a sense of honesty. We feel we can trust Jade to tell it like it is! So if you would talk a little about what was involved with creating this character, a wonderful character that can really carry a long series, I think readers and writers alike will be fascinated by this.

Lada: I have to confess: I am very fond of Jade! I love her not only as one of my characters – my creation – but also as a person. You hit the nail on the head. She is smart, sexy and fearless. Yes, she is all that. But what’s more, she is absolutely and brutally honest. Not just with others, but with herself, which is a much more difficult thing to do. There are many ways we as humans indulge in self-deception. Jade wouldn’t have any of that.

There is an expression in Russian, which is normally reserved for males: “With him, I’d go into battle.” In this case I can honestly say, with Jade I’d easily go into battle. In other words, Jade can be absolutely trusted. With everything – from the world’s largest treasure to someone’s life. And that, together with her zest for life and passion, is an enormous part of her sex appeal. Even her little deceptions come from a higher place.

Front matter Title page

Several years back, when I was flying to Asia via Dubai, I met some international journalists returning from Afghanistan, who told me stories of their adventures. As I was boarding my plane, the image of Jade Snow, complete with her flaming hair and unusual blue-green eyes appeared before me. It occurred to me that this young, sassy , beautiful journalist would make an amazing heroine for the international adventure series. I soon started writing my first novel, STEPFORD USA, prequel to the Jade Snow International Adventure Series. In it, Jade, 28, gets stuck in an idyllic town in the Berkshires, MA, where she is supposed to take it easy before the birth of her child. But this little sheltered paradise is hiding a terrible secret, which Jade must uncover, risking her own and her unborn baby’s lives. Next I wrote a short novella, GREEN DESERT, describing Jade’s experience in Iraq, before the start of the series.

When I stumbled upon the story of the lost Russian Imperial Gold, I knew – this was to be Jade’s next adventure. Now that the series has taken off, the characters and stories write themselves.

I didn’t plan it to be first person narrative. I am a third person gal, generally. But it’s as if Jade insisted on telling the story herself – and there was nothing I could do about it! There is some of me in Jade (what writer can resist that!), and that’s why it’s so easy to write her.

Correction: I don’t really write her. She just tells me her story and I transcribe it on paper.

Jade Snow adventures continue! There are many more mysteries to solve, conspiracies to uncover and wrongs to right. There is also much happiness to find.

DRAGON GATE, the next adventure set in Asia, is coming in 2012.  More information is available at my official author website: http://www.LadaRay.com.

Dear reader, I hope you’ll join me for the future Jade Snow Adventures, where Jade and I promise you a non-stop thrill ride with heart!

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? See here!

Jason: I think one thing that is a little confusing to Americans is the situation with the royal families in Russia. What was their lifestyle like, who were the major families, what is their current status, are they living abroad, etc. What were their houses like? I get the sense some of them were richly adorned palaces! Have you been in some of these, if so might you share your experience?

Lada: This is a very complex question and I’ll just scratch the surface with my brief answer. The lifestyle of the Russian royalty was very opulent and, as Lenin would put it, “they were very far from the people.” This is why the 1917 Revolution happened: the people, simply put, had had enough. World War I and its devastation had become the ultimate trigger.

Actually, some of the legendary Russian noble family names are mentioned in Gold Train. Although used fictitiously, as specified in the disclaimer, most are real historic names.

The Romanovs were of course the Imperial family. Prince Obolensky, Duchess Golitsina (sometimes the Dukes Golitsin would be referred to as Princes as well), Baron Vrangel, Count Vorontsov, Count Goncharov, Duke Menshikov (or Prince Menshikov) are all real historical names. Only Jade’s name – Countess Rosanova – is fictitious, as I wanted her to stand out and have her own identity.

Opulent ballroom at Catherine Palace, Pushkin, Saint Petersburg. Ballroom a little like this one is featured in Gold Train

Menshikov Palace on Neva Embankment, Saint Petersburg. In Gold Train, the Menshikov Mansion plays a prominent role and is owned by the oligarch, Yury Gurevich. Of course, the real Menshikov Palace is owned by the State and is a museum.

Please read more about the world of the Russian royalty in my upcoming article: Fact and Fiction in Gold Train, coming to Lada Ray Blog on May 6, 2012.

After the revolution, many of the royalty became part of the White Movement, some emigrated right away and others stayed, hoping the White army crushes the Bolsheviks and restores the monarchy. But this was not meant to be, and most of those who remained to fight the Bolsheviks ended up emigrating between 1918 and 1920.

This process was far from orderly. It was usually more like fleeing, boarding the last ship out or cramming into the last train, as the Bolsheviks gained and the Whites lost ground, and leaving everything behind in the process. Many ended up in Istanbul, Paris and even China penniless, forced to work at jobs far from glamorous – something they’ve never done in their lives – just to survive. For more on this, please watch the movies/read books I recommended earlier.

Meanwhile, those who had enough foresight, escaped with the family jewels (unless they had been robbed) or had foreign bank accounts and family connections to sustain them during their emigration.

The minority stayed in the Soviet Union and adjusted to their best ability. Some even thrived.

Presently, many former nobles live in the USA, France, Holland, UK and other Western European countries. Many have returned to Russia, which now welcomes them with open arms. Some of the events and aristocratic characters in GOLD TRAIN echo my own experiences. And although used fictitiously in the book, The Royal Society does exist in Russia.

It should be mentioned that most descendants of the noble houses of Russia are currently of very mixed blood, as described in Gold Train.

I’ve been to lots of palaces owned by the former Russian royalty. Extremely lavish and expansive, most are presently owned by the state and are museums, as well as various cultural establishments. The majority have been lovingly maintained during the Soviet days, but were somewhat neglected during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Recently, the new Russia again started heavily investing into maintaining its cultural heritage.

Jason: And finally, since my blog tour day will be May 1st, perhaps you could explain May Day a little from a Russian perspective. Is it a big deal in
Russia? How is it celebrated, has it changed since the end of the Soviet Union? Is there a Spring connection?

Lada: It is my pleasure to talk a little about May 1, or May Day – “Pervomay,” as it is traditionally called in Russian.

The Holiday, considered International Labor Day, is celebrated widely in Europe, China Latin America and of course, in Russia. During the Soviet days, every city and town would host massive parades and demonstrations. Each company or government office would rally its workers and their families. Nurseries and kindergartens would have Pervomay parties with kids dressing up and singing, dancing, performing. Oh yeah, kids also got showered with gifts, usually lots of candy and chocolates, both from their parents’ place of work and through their day care.

 May Day party in my kindergarten. Me and my then boyfriend 😉

 May Day shot of my kindergarten class after a performance. I am sitting in the first row, second from left. Poster on the right wall says: “World Peace.”

If you imagine it was all done under the barrel of a gun, think again. It was actually quite festive, and again, similar celebrations are common throughout Europe today, as thisday is supposed to demonstrate the international solidarity of the workers. I was still very little when these mass parades, or demonstrations as they were called in the USSR, still took place.

I remember lots of red banners, colorful balloons and a sea of spring flowers. I also remember the incredible spring smell. I spent my childhood in Odessa, a southern city on the Black Sea, with gentle sun and breezes blowing from the bay, with lilac, jasmine and acacia trees in bloom. Russians love their flowers, and between bunches of tulips in people’s hands and blooming flowerbeds, trees and bushes, the whole city smelled like an enormous celebratory bouquet.

Every office or company carried their own insignia and banners to identify themselves and display their achievements. As with a lot of other kids, I’d usually have the best seat in the house, riding on my father’s shoulders. Uplifting music played everywhere, from live bands, trying to outdo each other, and from the loudspeakers installed on every corner. People would dance and sing on streets. The whole city turned into a massive, joyfully buzzing beehive. It was loads of fun.

Then, the country started slowly turning away from its socialist traditions and Pervomay demonstrations became smaller and smaller. When Gorbachev came to power, a lot of the old Soviet traditions were modified or eliminated.

The new generation, as we grew up, developed very different interests. As a linguist and translator, mine lay abroad, as I spent most of my time traveling while in college. In the late 1980s, I didn’t pay much attention to what was going on under my very nose, even though my friends and I would still often celebrate Pervomay as it was intended – in nature or somewhere on the beach. We would burn fires, bake potatoes, make shashlik (Russian shish kebob), and sing to the accompaniment of a guitar. I have to say, to this day I miss these outings. In 1991, I left the country permanently and finished my education abroad. Shortly thereafter, the Soviet Union had peacefully and quietly ceased to exist.

 May, still a little cool. Us on the beach, Odessa

I have to say, that tomato and corn on the cob were delicious (homemade hot corn, straight from the stove and a perennial favorite treat for beach goers in Odessa, was sold by babushkas at the entrance to the beach… yum!)

 Contemplating the meaning of life. More early beach in Odessa.

 

 One fine day in the Caucasus mountains. Me and one very cute monkey 😉

 Today as I understand, Pervomay is still celebrated in the Soviet fashion by Communist party members, which is the second most popular party in Russia after Putin’s ruling United Russia party.

The roots of the holiday are actually pagan. The indigenous pagan populations of Europe, including the continent’s largest Celtic and Rus cultures, celebrated May Day in nature, with lots of spring flowers, bonfires, music, dance and good food, to greet the beginning of the warm season. You can still see traces of this ancient holiday in, say, Ukrainian 19th century literature and Celtic legends. Today’s Wiccans celebrate this holiday, too.

But with the advent of the modern era and Christianity, these old traditions were forgotten. They were revived in the 19th century Europe, when it was decided to celebrate this day as International Workers Day. It was the time when the factory workers in Europe and USA were fighting for their rights.

And here is the shocker: The actual trigger to this newly revived holiday was the event in Chicago, USA, when during a factory strike, a number of American workers were killed as a result of a brutal crackdown, which happened – you’ve guessed it – on May 1. The workers in other countries decided to show solidarity with their “American brothers” by marking this day as International Workers’ Day. Isn’t it ironic that Labor Day in the USA, as opposed to the rest of the world, is now celebrated in September.

May Day is a national holiday not only in Russia today, but also in most of the world. In Russia everyone actually has April 30 and May 1 as official days off. May 8-9, Victory Day – another 2 days off. Some companies/offices have practically 2 weeks off, which they call May Holidays. Not bad! That’s in addition to country wide 10 days off for New Year/Russian Christmas: 12/31-1/10 and required by law 1 month vacation for all! Most Europeans have 24-36 day vacations AND many countries have additional 2 weeks period in August, when the whole country practically shuts down for a summer break. Compare that to American 2 weeks. Hmmm… Food for thought, especially on May Day.

Thank you, Jason, for this very special opportunity to connect with your readers. I thoroughly enjoyed answering your in-depth, off-the-beaten-path questions. And I hope the readers enjoyed this interview, too!

Thank you, Lada, for such a fascinating interview! I’m sure my readers are going to want to become Jade Snow fans and follow her adventures. You have been very generous sharing with us memories from your life. Thank you for this. You illustrate beautifully how an author’s experiences weave into his or her writing to create compelling and world-broadening fiction. I would like to remind readers to visit Lada’s website for more information on all of Lada Ray’s writing. And, before you leave this page, please leave a short comment so that you, too, may be eligible for the drawing! Thank you for stopping by Different Outcomes!

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment to be entered to win a GOLD TRAIN ebook on 5/6, including the *required info! What is the required info? See here!

GOLD TRAIN INFO and LINKS

Genre: geopolitical/spy thriller, historic mystery, action, adventure, humor, suspense with an element of otherworldly romance.

Pages: 230. Print size: 9×6 in.

Release: eBook – 12/18/11. Paperback – 4/25/12

PROMOTIONS:
For a limited time on Amazon:

Buy GOLD TRAIN paperback for $9.99 (reg. $14.95)
Buy Gold Train ebook for only $0.99 (reg. $3.99)
Own all three Jade Snow ebooks for only $2.97. Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert – $0.99 each!

More information about these Promotions, as well as Giveaways and the Gold Train Blog Tour schedule: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

WHERE TO BUY GOLD TRAIN:

Amazon (Paperback)

Amazon US (eBook)

Amazon UK DE FR ES IT (Paperback and eBook)

Barnes & Noble (eBook)

Smashwords (eBook)

Kobo (eBook)

Sony (eBook)

USEFUL LINKS:

Blog Tour and Giveaway info: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours
Visit Lada Ray Author Website – all about GOLD TRAIN and other books:http://www.LadaRay.com
GOLD TRAIN Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkTek8E23rg
Blog: https://ladaray.wordpress.com
Twitter: @LadaTweets
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LadaRay
YouTube: Lada Ray Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay/videos

I am inviting you to check out the entertaining posts on Lada Ray Blog with lots of beautiful and rare photos. It’s Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russian trains and gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Russian Metro, like you’ve never seen them before! It’s also about Jade Snow and Gold Train:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

Amazing Russian Metro

The World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

GOLD TRAIN: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series

GOLD TRAIN: Who is this mysterious Alexei?

Tsars, Oligarchs and Imperial Treasure: St. Petersburg, Russia

In conclusion, read book reviews by Jason Sullivan:

Book Review: Gold Train by Lada Ray

Book Review: Stepford USA by Lada Ray

Reblogged from Different Outcomes blog by author Jason Sullivan:

May Day Interview with Lada Ray, author of Gold Train

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GOLD TRAIN, Second Edition

12 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Amazon, Barnes & Noble Nook, CULTURE: Russia, E-book, geopolitical thriller, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, historic mystery, Jade Snow Russia Adventure, Jade Snow Series, Lada Ray, Moscow, mystery thriller, Saint Petersburg, Smashwords

The exciting Second Edition of GOLD TRAIN is now on Amazon and Smashwords digital shelves!

Check it out:

Amazon US

Amazon UK   DE   FR   ES   IT 

Smashwords 

Coming to all other Ebook retailers soon!

GOLD TRAIN Paperback launch: April 25, 2012

GOLD TRAIN Paperback Launch Blog Tour: April 25 – May 6

Check out http://www.LadaRay.com for all updates.

Watch new dramatic GOLD TRAIN book trailer

See you on pages of my books!

Lada Ray

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New GOLD TRAIN Book Trailer – new dramatic score!

05 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: Russia

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

action, Barnes & Noble Nook, book trailer, CULTURE: Russia, geopolitical thriller, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, historic mystery, Jade Snow, Jade Snow International Adventure Series, Moscow, mystery thriller, romance, Russia Adventure, Saint Petersburg, spy thriller, suspense, trailer, World Heritage Site, YouTube

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Book Review: Stepford USA by Lada Ray

16 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Stepford USA, Guest Posts, Reviews

≈ Comments Off on Book Review: Stepford USA by Lada Ray

Tags

BOOK: Stepford USA, cat lovers mystery, conspiracy, CULTURE: Russia, international journalist, Jade, Jade Snow, Jade Snow World Adventure Series, knitting club, Moscow, murder, mystery, mystery thriller, paranormal, pet lovers, prequel, psychological thriller, small town, Stepford, Stepford Wives, twists, United States

Re-Blogged from DIFFERENT OUTCOMES BLOG by Jason Sullivan http://differentoutcomes.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/book-review-stepford-us-by-lada-ray/

Posted on December 30, 2011

Some people think small town life is uneventful. Jade Snow, the protagonist of Lada Ray’s mystery-thriller, Stepford USA, thought so as well. But Jade was soon to learn that sleepy little towns can hold the biggest, scariest secrets! Jade arrives in Stepford in order to rest up before having a baby. However, she quickly starts to pick up hints that everything is not all charm and tranquility. Many years ago a horrible crime was committed from which the dust has never quite settled. With her husband halfway around the world, and while she awaits the birth of her baby, Jade tries to uncover the truth. But who can she trust? In a small town that harbors a dangerous secret one misstep can be fatal!

This exciting page-turner written by Lada Ray will have you guessing who did it from the very beginning. Lada skillfully weaves many surprises into this psychological thriller. Her exquisite scene setting together with compelling dialogue makes Stepford USA a fascinating, if at times nail-biting, read. If you are a cat lover, as I must admit I am, you will very much enjoy the exploits of a certain heroic feline who plays no small part in this book. I highly recommend Stepford USA. Jade Snow is intelligent, warm and witty. Join her as she puts the pieces together and helps release a town from its dark, hidden past.

book review by Jason Sullivan

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STEPFORD, USA – A Mystery By Lada Ray – Book Review

10 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Stepford USA, Guest Posts, Reviews

≈ Comments Off on STEPFORD, USA – A Mystery By Lada Ray – Book Review

Tags

Afghanistan, BOOK: Stepford USA, conspiracy, Jade, Jade Snow, Jade Snow World Adventure Series, Lada Ray, Massachusetts, murder, mystery thriller, prequel, psychological thriller, rape, small town thriller with international twists, Stepford, Stepford Wives, United States

via http://booksreview4u.wordpress.com/ STEPFORD, USA – A Mystery By Lada Ray – Book Review by J.J.Collins

Review by J.J.Collins

This first instalment by Author – Lada Ray introduces us to brilliant investigative journalist – Jade Snow. Jade Snow we learn, is a twenty eight year old all action investigative journalist used to dodging straying bullets in Afghanistan, before a near death experience throws her into the arms of her soon to be husband Paul. What Jade doesn’t realise is that her days of investigative journalism and an all action career are about to come to an abrupt halt when motherhood dawns or is it?

This thriller is set in the sleepy surroundings of Stepford, Massachusetts, a small town community in America that hides a deep dark secret. Jade finds herself in this sleepy town against her wishes following her husband’s insistence on finding her a nice, quiet and calm environment for her to remain fit and well during her pregnancy. Jade Snow we learn is no ordinary young mum to be. It is not long before her inquisitive mind and investigative instincts, lead her onto the trail of a devastating dark hidden secret within the community. A crime so horrendous and brutal, it lives on in the lives and happenings of this sleepy hallow even until the present day.

Jade’s loneliness and love of quality company finds her being introduced, and soon becoming part of the social set-up of this most picturesque of American town’s. The intimate circle of six women Jade would join, unbeknown to her, will transform her time in Stepford from a peaceful relaxing stay into an intriguing web of lies, deceit and mystery. The pursuit of the truth will not only put Jade Snow and the life of her unborn child in grave danger, it will have a profound impact on the lives and community of this most fascinating of small towns for years to come.

This story of a horrific crime, a victim, an accused person and powerful local interests, desperate to keep the truth hidden from the larger world, only makes Jade Snow throw off her restrictive temporary physical shackles and risk all, to unravel the truth. The pursuit of truth among the complex personalities of this town, and an eagerness for someone to keep it hidden at all costs makes the challenge appear impossible.

Stepford USA takes us on a journey with this charming, sharp minded young journalist in a race to reveal the truth before someone else is killed, will Jade succeed? Can she protect herself and the life of her unborn child? Who can she trust? Anyone? Will she manage to discover the facts before it costs someone their life or even her own?

On the face of it, Stepford is a thriving small town community the likes of which are splattered across the American continent however, the deceit and manipulation facing Jade threatens not just people, it threatens the very way of life of this beautiful town. Undeterred, Jade Snow takes us on a gripping, dark psychological adventure, where unrealised talents may be the difference between life and death for Jade and others.

Does the answer to the secret rest within the group of six ladies “Knitting Club”? All women of varying ages and loyalties. We are introduced to Lady Adelaide Paphos, an elegant motherly like lady, who develops a fondness and close bond with Jade during her time in Stepford. Her son Jason who harbours a long held secret. Then a chance lunch time meeting with the power players of the local community that introduces us to the young police chief – Chief Nordini, Judge Bowman, Lawyer Marc Catcham, Banker Peter Burns and the quiet Jack Maloof. These men all with varying interests and knowledge of the comings and goings of the town extend an invitation to the elite Rotary Club to Jade. How will this innocent invitation propel Jade into an even more intricate web of unimagined deceit?

Jade’s investigative journey takes us to a “Hidden Lake”, a chance encounter with a friendly neighbour and his dog, a virtual reality experience and observing one of the married town influencers groping a woman out of sight of others. How does all this relate to the truth? Can it be found and who is watching Jade’s every move?

This page turning thriller is exciting, full of suspicion and possesses excellent character development throughout. It challenges the reader to consider the glaringly obvious and not so obvious, reality and challenge their own perceptions of reality and illusion in the pursuit of destroying the prejudices found in every small town. Will Jade and her soon to be born baby survive the small town experience?

The author has managed to develop a character with a fascinating thoughtful purpose. The brilliant combination of plot, character development and unexpected twists and turns, keeps the reader addicted to the next turned page. Once you start reading this book, you will not put it down such is the perfect pace and flow of words in which the book is written by the author.

Psychological thrillers don’t get much better than this.  Excitingly and yet chillingly gripping, it’s the sort of plot line that surprises you at every turn and absolutely does not let you go.

A highly recommended read for anyone.

via http://booksreview4u.wordpress.com/ STEPFORD, USA – A Mystery By Lada Ray – Book Review by J. J. Collins

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GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

22 Sunday Jan 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: Russia, CULTURE: World

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, Author Lada Ray, Gold Train, Jade Snow Russia Adventure, Moscow, Moscow Metro, mystery thriller, New York City, Russian culture, Russian Metro, Saint Petersburg Metro, Soviet art, Soviet Union, St Petersburg

Above: Komsomolskaya Metro Station, Moscow

If you are used to the gloomy, dungeon-like New York Subway (sorry, dear New Yorkers,) as I am, absolutely nothing can prepare you for the gorgeous Russian Metro! Don’t get me wrong – I love New York, and it is my second home, but the City’s unbelievably ugly and outdated subway is a different story all together.

When I complain about it, my husband – a consummate New Yorker – just shrugs his shoulders: “It gets you from point A to point B!”

Yeah, right… Point A to point B. But what about beauty? Style? Aesthetics?

Well, in all truth, even if you come from Paris, London, or Vienna, with their much nicer underground transportation systems, you’ll still be amazed at the Russian Metro!

One of Moscow’s most popular tours is “A Day in the Moscow Metro.” I am not kidding! They actually take you on a day-long tour to ride from station to station, during which time they tell you all about the history and art featured in each. And the day, spent doing that, is likely to become one of the major highlights of your Russian trip!

Can you imagine doing something like this in New York? Ouch! Not a chance! The best I can do, if I have absolutely no choice but to take subway, is to try and get in and out as soon as possible. And I’d gladly ride it with my eyes closed, if it wasn’t too risky to walk up and down the stairs without looking.

In GOLD TRAIN, Jade Snow also samples the sumptuous Moscow Metro on the day of her arrival. But it is the St. Petersburg Metro that has special significance in the book.

Without further ado, presenting The Magnificent Russian Metro! 

Moscow Metro (Moskovsky Metropoliten) first opened in 1935. It is the second busiest metro system in the world after Tokyo’s Twin Cities subway. Length, 305 kilometers, 185 stations. Moscow Metro carries 7 million people per day!

Are you listening, New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York Mayor and City Council?! Not only they get 7 million people from point A to point B each and every day, but also do it on time, in style and much more affordably, than New Yorkers could ever dream of! How do they do it? And why can’t you?

Above: Arbatskaya Metro Station, Moscow. As on this picture, tourists happily snap pictures of beautiful statures, chandeliers, frescoes and paintings.

Above: Kievskaya Metro Station, Moscow. One of the original stations, built in the 1930s. As in this mosaic, exquisitely performed Soviet art dominates some of the historic stations.

One of the absolutely amazing facts about the Russian Metro is that during WWII, it doubled as a giant bomb shelter – by far the most luxurious, comfortable and spacious bomb shelter in the world.

Above: Another historic Moscow Metro Station, complete with beautiful marble paneling and bronze statues. Take a look on the right! See the famous statue of the “good luck dog?” Notice his nose? It’s almost white. That’s because everyone who passes by this dog, rubs his nose for good luck. 🙂

More magnificent classic stations:

Below: several newer Moscow Metro Stations.

Below: One of the Museum Metro cars, complete with art decking its walls. No cattle car here!

And now, the beautiful St. Petersburg Metro!

Rivaling Moscow Metro in its splendor, and mainly built in the 1950s, it’s the 5th busiest metro system in the world. In addition, it is also the deepest underground system in the world, with some stations placed well beneath the Neva River bed.

Above: Pushkinskaya Station, St. Petersburg. Monument to the Russian writer, Alexander Pushkin.

Above and below: more palacial St. Petersburg Metro Stations.

One of GOLD TRAIN’s most dramatic and crucial episodes takes place at  Sportivnaya Station. “Sportivnaya” translates as “Sports,” and the theme is that of the Ancient Greek Olympic Games.

I chose Sportivnaya Station for a reason. I don’t want to give away the plot for those, who haven’t read the book yet, so I’ll just remind everyone that by law, all wars stopped during the Greek Olympic Games. This fact has a special significance in the book.

Below: Sportivnaya Station with its Ancient Greek theme.

More Sportivnaya Station mosaics.

  The incredibly deep Metro escalator reaching all the way under the Neva River bed, much like the one Jade Snow boarded in GOLD TRAIN.

One of the St. Petersburg Metro entrances, much like in the dramatic GOLD TRAIN episode.

Companion posts:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

GOLD TRAIN: the World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

GOLD TRAIN: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Accidental Spy Series

GOLD TRAIN: Who is this mysterious Alexei?

Amazon & Kindle bestseller!

GOLD GT COVER ebook

Buy GOLD TRAIN (Accidental Spy Russia Adventure) ebook & paperback:

Amazon US  UK  CA  DE (available on all intl. Amazon sites)

Barnes & Noble     Smashwords

Jason Bourne & Outlander fusion with a vodka twist… 

Begin your secret love affair with Russia! GOLD TRAIN is a fast-paced romantic mystery/thriller based on true historical events!
Experience Moscow and St. Petersburg like you’ve never imagined them before; travel through Russia’s turbulent history and ever-changing present; immerse yourself in a world filled with oligarchs, hidden treasure, ultimate royal glamour, state secrets and FSB spies. It’s the world guided by destiny’s hand and spiced up with passionate love affair that could only happen where stakes are deadly and every day may be your last!

1918 Civil War: the entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire vanishes without a trace. But what if it’s about to resurface?

Today: flaming hair, striking blue-green eyes, relentless optimism & burning desire to uncover the truth… Jade Snow, sexy international journalist turned stay-at-home mom, turned spy extraordinaire, thinks she has seen it all – until she gets a fateful call from Russia. Jade travels to Moscow to investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train and reconnect with the land of her ancestors; instead, she lands in the middle of a high-stakes international conspiracy threatening to change the fate of one of the world’s most powerful nations. Refusing to be a pawn in the game of forces beyond her control, Jade must choose between her worst friends and best enemies…and the future just might depend on her choice!
 

For readers 16+ due to a couple of very steamy (but tasteful) romantic scenes. Spectacular setting and tons of invaluable information about history & Russia.

Top rated!

ES COVER ebook 2

The Earth Shifter is a rich and prophetic 5-star metaphysical thriller set on Sacred Lake Baikal in Siberia, Moscow & New York. It is filled with a stand-out cast of characters, punctuated with dramatic action, and wrapped in a fabric of profound revelations. Recommended for most ages, early teen through adult.

Buy ebook & paperback:  

Amazon US  UK  CA  DE (available on all intl. Amazon sites)

Barnes&Noble    Smashwords

More about Books by Lada Ray

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GOLD TRAIN: the World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

20 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: Russia, CULTURE: World

≈ 23 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, Author Lada Ray, Gold Train, high speed train Sapsan, Jade Snow, Moscow, Moscow-St. Petersburg express, mystery thriller, Odessa Ukraine, Russian culture, Russian Empire, Russian Railways, Russian trains, St Petersburg

Trains and travels are in my blood. I was born in Moscow, and my parents both worked for Russian Railways. When I was barely two, they were transferred first to Kishinev (now, Chisinau) Moldova, and later, to Odessa, the beautiful city on the Black Sea, now part of the Ukraine. As part of my parents’ job benefits, I always had free railroad tickets, the privilege, I enthusiastically abused for years.

There is a huge train-centric culture in Europe in general, and in Russia in particular. Something, that is probably very difficult to understand in the US, with its car dependent culture. There is always something romantic and breathtaking about a train journey through the night, when everyone’s asleep and the rythmic song and sway of the rails makes you think about far away lands and the fascinating discoveries awaiting you at tomorrow’s destination.

Trains have always had a soothing effect on me and when I was little, I loved sleeping on a train. In GOLD TRAIN, Jade rides on a sleeper express from Moscow to St. Petersburg, sharing a compartment with a retired Russian teacher. This scene resonates deeply with my childhood memories.

The idea for the Gold Train took root, when I first heard the story of the lost Russian Imperial Treasure. I knew right away that it was my book to write.

It starts in 1918, during the Russian Civil War, as the special steam engine train, carrying the Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire by Lenin’s personal decree, is attacked, and the treasure disappears into the night.

Then, the action fast forwards to present day New York, as international journalist, Jade Snow, prepares for her unexpected and exotic assignment to Russia, to investigate the mystery of the Gold Train.

Action steams full speed ahead, as Jade arrives to Moscow and finds herself a pawn in a deadly game – the game, she is forced to play.

Various trains play a big role in the story, including the high-speed train Sapsan, the Moscow-St. Petersburg sleeper express, as well as the luxurious, one-of-a-kind Russian Metro. I’ll have a separate post for the Russian Metro, with beautiful pics and videos – well worth watching – in  a couple of days.

But today, let’s talk about the fascinating world of Russian trains!

Russia is a relative new-comer to the high-speed train market. Its new high-speed train is called Sapsan (Moscow-St. Petersburg-Moscow.) The name was chosen well, as “Sapsan” is a variety of hawk, considered to be the fastest bird in the world.

Sapsan, the first Russian bullet train, currently shares tracks with regular train traffic and because of that, “only” achieves speed of 250 km/hr. It is also larger, than its European counterparts. New tracks, being built now, will allow it to travel at its optimal speed of 360-380 km/hr. More high-speed lines are porjected to be built in the next several years.

It takes 3 hrs 45 min to get on Sapsan from Moscow to St. Petersburg, while an overnight express takes 7-8 hrs.

Check out these cool videos:

Sapsan at High Speed http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay?feature=mhee#p/f/83/MqtWZZDxqes

Another video ‘The Fastest Trains of Russia’ starring the cutest kitty 🙂  http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay?feature=mhee#p/f/82/9eURuvwG3Lo

Moscow – St. Petersburg trains:

Nikolayevsky Express

Red Arrow Express

First Class compartment, much like the one in which Jade traveled from Moscow to St. Petersburg

 Russian express train corridor

Companion Posts:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

GOLD TRAIN: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series

GOLD TRAIN: Who is Alexei?

Check out GOLD TRAIN ebook on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble Nook

Smashwords

GOLD TRAIN paperback is coming on April 25, 2012. More: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

For descriptions/excerpts/trailers from GOLD TRAIN and other Lada Ray’s books: LadaRay.com

If you liked my posts, please comment, RT, share and follow Lada Ray Blog!

Till next time,

Cheers!

Lada Ray

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GOLD TRAIN: Who is This Mysterious Alexei?

14 Saturday Jan 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: Russia

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Accidental Spy Series, action adventure, Author Lada Ray, Da Vinci Code, FSB, geopolitical thriller, Gold Train, Jade Snow, KGB, Moscow, mystery thriller, romance, Russia, Russian Emperor, Upper West Side

For the fans of the Da Vinci Code and Jason Bourne, comes this gripping new mystery/thriller, set in Russia and based on true historic events!

“Alexei” is pronounced (Ah-lek-sáy) with emphasis on “say.”

Alexei is the iconic Russian name, whose popularity never dwindled through many centuries of use. The name “Alexei” is especially symbolic in GOLD TRAIN as those who read the book would appreciate, because it is also the name of the last Russian Tsar Nicolas’s son and Heir to the Russian Throne.

In GOLD TRAIN, international journalist Jade Snow travels to Russia to investigate tantalizing mystery of the lost Imperial Treasure, instead, she finds herself in the middle of a conspiracy threatening to change the fate of the world’s largest country and, perhaps, the future of the entire world.

At the same time, Jade finds something she, a happily married woman with a small child and a lovely apartment on New York’s Upper West Side, never expected – forbidden passion defying time and space. The man Jade meets is unlike any she’d ever known. Who is this mysterious Alexei with a sexy smile no woman seems to be able to resist? And can she trust him?

As Jade and Alexei race against time and their destiny unfolds, we learn all about Alexei’s incredible background and amazing abilities.

If I had to draw Alexei, this is what he’d look like. See the picture above.

Read companion articles:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro 

GOLD TRAIN: the World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories 

GOLD TRAIN: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Accidental Spy Series

Check out GOLD TRAIN ebook on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble Nook

Smashwords

GOLD TRAIN paperback is coming on April 25, 2012. More: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

For descriptions/excerpts/trailers from GOLD TRAIN and other Lada Ray’s books: LadaRay.com

If you liked my posts, please comment, RT, share and follow Lada Ray Blog!

Till next time,

Cheers!

Lada Ray

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GOLD TRAIN: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Accidental Spy Series

13 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN, CULTURE: Russia

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

5 star thriller, Accidental Spy Asia Adventure, Accidental Spy Russia Adventure, Accidental Spy Series, Author Lada Ray, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, Green Desert, Iraq, Jade Snow, Moscow, mystery thriller, Russian culture, Russian Empire, Stepford USA

The JADE SNOW INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURE SERIES idea was born several years ago, when I was flying through Dubai to Asia. In Dubai I met American journalists, returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, who told me stories of their adventures. As I was leaving Dubai, the picture of Jade Snow, a young, beautiful and spirited international journalist, who’d worked in Iraq and Afghanistan, appeared before my eyes. It occured to me that she would make a great heroine for an international mystery/thriller series.

A beautiful and witty red-head with unusual blue-green eyes, budding psychic powers and rare talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Jade Snow is the protagonist of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series and of GOLD TRAIN, the gripping mystery/thriller, set in Russia and based on true historic events. When she gets married, this international journalist gives up her promising career to raise her little daughter, Lara.

But as the unexpected and exotic assignment drops in her lap, she jumps at the chance to restart her career and reconnect with her Russian roots. She gets much more than she’d ever bargained for!

When Jade travels to Russia, amid the magical settings of St. Petersburg and Moscow, she must uncover a dangerous conspiracy, find the world’s largest treasure and experience forbidden passion, defying time and space.

As she finds herself a pawn in a struggle between forces beyond her control, she also meets the man, who’ll change her life forever.

Click to watch GOLD TRAIN Book Trailer!

Companion posts:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

GOLD TRAIN: Amazing Russian Metro

GOLD TRAIN: the World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

GOLD TRAIN: Who is This Mysterious Alexei?

Check out GOLD TRAIN ebook on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble Nook

Smashwords

GOLD TRAIN paperback is coming on April 25, 2012. More: https://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

For descriptions/excerpts/trailers from GOLD TRAIN and other Lada Ray’s books: LadaRay.com

If you liked my posts, please comment, RT, share and follow Lada Ray Blog!

Till next time,

Cheers!

Lada Ray

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Green Desert

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Green Desert

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Allah, American Sergeant, anti-war, Barnes & Noble, BOOK: Green Desert, International Journalist Jade Snow, Iraq, Iraqi insurgency, Jade Snow Novella, mystery thriller, smart bomb, suicide bombing, terrorist, United States, University of Baghdad

GREEN DESERT

He dreamed about turning the Iraqi desert into a garden – what made him become a terrorist? When international journalist Jade Snow comes to Iraq to shoot a documentary about the Iraqi insurgency, she witnesses a suicide bombing of a truck, full of American soldiers. When two letters drop in her lap, she must take a chilling journey, as the suicide bomber and an American sergeant, killed in the attack, tell their stories from the grave. A riveting tale of tragedy, loss and undying hope!

A Jade Snow Novella

Category: short novella, anti-war, thriller, mystery

Word count: 12,000

Bonus: this edition of Green Desert Includes an excerpt from the upcoming thriller GOLD TRAIN, set in Russia!

Watch book trailer!

Sample a riveting excerpt below!

Sample/buy GREEN DESERT:

Amazon US

Smashwords 

Barnes & Noble

Complete information at http://www.LadaRay.com

GREEN DESERT

One day, the Iraqi desert will be a garden…again.

Mohammed al-Tikriti, suicide bomber, former University of Baghdad student

2008, Iraq

He looked up and wiped the sweat streaming down his face with a trembling hand. Eight am… Baghdad sun knew no mercy even at this hour. He must concentrate, just a few more minutes! He stood next to his shabby, dusty Corolla, with faded taxi markings on it. The alley was deserted and deathly quiet, as expected. But just down the hill, barely thirty meters away and fully visible from his vantage point, was the intersection of the busiest road in the city.

Almost time. They should be here any moment.

He took an envelope out of his pocket and almost decided to leave it by the gate of the nearest house, securing it with a rock, when he saw an American press crew – a cameraman and a tall, slim woman, disguised as a man (who was she kidding?) – setting up their camera straight on the intersection.

He simply couldn’t believe his luck! Allah is merciful, he didn’t desert him in this hour of judgment! He cast a quick glance around – and another stroke of luck! A young boy, no more than eight or nine, rounded the corner, carrying a heavy jug of water, and made his way through the alley.

“Hey, boy! Come here, little boy,” he called, waving temptingly his last two dollar bills. “Want to make some real American money?”

The boy nodded and cautiously edged closer.

He handed the boy the envelope. “I want you to give this after the explosion to that pretty lady, dressed as a man. Do you see her?”

The boy’s shrewd eyes shot in the direction of the American press crew, and he nodded, giggling. Then, another thought made him frown.

“What explosion?” he asked suspiciously.

“You’ll see,” said the mysterious man. “The most important thing, stay hidden right here until after it happens. Understood?”

The boy nodded.

The man gave him an encouraging smile and got into his Corolla. Time!

He started the motor and quietly rolled closer to the intersection. Immediately, he heard the rumbling noise of a huge American truck, then he saw it. Praise Allah! Yet another stroke of luck – the monstrosity was full of soldiers. A big man with sergeant’s insignia sat in the cabin, next to the driver. Good! He’ll aim right at him. An officer is even better than mere soldiers.

“Allaaaaaaaaaaaah!” He slammed his foot on the accelerator and with a desperate cry launched his car forward, like a missile.

The big sergeant in the front seat turned his head towards him. The last thing the man’s mind registered was a surprise in sergeant’s blue eyes.

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Stepford USA

03 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: Stepford USA

≈ Comments Off on Stepford USA

Tags

5 star thriller, Accidental Spy Adventure Series, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, E-book, Jade Snow World Adventure Series, Kindle, murder, mystery thriller, psychological thriller, rape, small town mystery, Smashwords, Stepford Wives, United States

STEPFORD, USA
Sample prologue and chapters 1-4 below!
 

“I enjoyed reading this uplifting book by Ms Ray, filled with intrigue and irresistible characters.” From Amazon review by a reader.

“Very well written and gripping tale that will leave you guessing to the very end! Excellent storytelling!” From Amazon review by a reader.

A small town mystery with psychological twists. Alternative title: Virtual Paradise.

Stepford USA will dazzle you with an array of funny, outlandish and utterly realistic characters. Who committed rape and murder: a corrupt police chief, a crooked politician, a millionaire-nerd, or a womanizing banker? Ladies from the Stepford Knitting Club know it all, except that the town has been hijacked by criminals, posing as pillars of local community. That’s where Jade Snow comes in. A new breed of amateur sleuths and investigative journalist, she’s thoroughly at home in the brave, new, globalized world, but unprepared for one challenge – the dull existence in this sheltered American town. And that’s exactly where she ends up after getting married and pregnant. Aided by a super-intelligent calico cat and a psychoanalyst from New York, Jade’s on a mission to solve baffling mysteries and to turn upside down this sleepy paradise… if she can survive the attraction to an enigmatic convicted rapist, and the encounter with a desperate killer. Enough romance, psychology, mystical happenings, amazing pets, virtual reality and humor to delight fans of six different genres, Stepford, USA is a read to enjoy and remember!

Includes an excerpt from the gripping new thriller GOLD TRAIN, set in Russia. On digital shelves Holiday Season 2011! Paperback – April 2012!

Accidental Spy Adventure #1

Category: novel, mystery/thriller, cozy mystery with a twist, women sleuths, psychic, paranormal, pet lovers, psychological mystery

Word count: 69,000

(Includes an excerpt from the upcoming thriller GOLD TRAIN set in Russia!)

Watch Book Trailer!

Buy STEPFORD USA eBook:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon DE

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Read extensive excerpt (prologue & first 4 chapters) here!

Complete information at http://www.LadaRay.com

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GOLD TRAIN Holiday Launch 12/19/11 – 1/1/12

20 Tuesday Dec 2011

Posted by Lada Ray in BOOK: GOLD TRAIN

≈ Comments Off on GOLD TRAIN Holiday Launch 12/19/11 – 1/1/12

Tags

action, adventure, Author Lada Ray, Barnes & Noble, CULTURE: Russia, FSB, Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire, Gold Train, gripping thriller, historic mystery, humor, Jade, Jade Snow, Jade Snow World Adventure Series, KGB, mystery thriller, Nicolas II, romance, Russia Adventure, Russian Civil War, Russian Tsar, Saint Petersburg, Smashwords, Soviet Union, suspense, true historic events

Giveaway, promotion, blog, new excerpts, reviews, fun!

Announcing 3 for 1 Promotion!
Buy GOLD TRAIN ebook for $2.99
and get 2 free ebooks!

GOLD TRAIN

For the fans of The Da Vinci Code & National Treasure
comes this gripping new thriller, based on true historic events!

1918: Civil War in Russia. The entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire vanishes without a trace. But what if it’s about to resurface? And what if it’s about to be used to shift the global balance of power?
Today: the world’s largest treasure; dangerous adventure; forbidden passion, defying time and space; conspiracy that threatens to plunge the country into darkness.
International journalist, Jade Snow, travels to Russia to investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train, instead, she finds herself a pawn in a struggle between forces beyond her control. Running is not an option, as commitment to solve a murder makes her play the deadly game. Jade must choose between her worst friends and best enemies, and the fate of the world just might depend on her choice!

READ 5 STAR REVIEWS!

Jade Snow International Adventure Series 1

Category: novel, international mystery/thriller, geopolitical/spy thriller, historic mystery, suspense with an element of otherworldly romance

Word count: 68,400

Read GOLD TRAIN Excerpts:

Excerpt 1

Dramatic Prologue

Excerpt 2

Jade and Alexei – Love Scene in St. Petersburg

Excerpt 3

Jade’s Kidnapping

 Buy GOLD TRAIN ebook:

Amazon US

 Amazon UK

 Amazon DE  FR  ES  IT

Smashwords

Coming soon: Barnes & Noble, Sony, Apple, Diesel, Kobo!

Watch GOLD TRAIN Trailer

Complete Information at http://www.LadaRay.com

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