Jeff Bennington’s Second Novel, REUNION, Getting Rave Reviews

Jeff Bennington has published a second novel, REUNION, a supernatural thriller. Officially released on April 1^st, REUNION is published by Nexgate Press and is available at all online retailers and bookstores.

REUNION (ISBN: 9780615450865) is a story about a group of kids who go through a school shooting and then reunite twenty years later in spite of their fears and personal struggles. It is a book about living with pain, surviving trauma and overcoming fear. Bennington mixes these themes in a “mind-twisting” thriller that is leaving reviewers speechless.

In a time when bullying and school shootings make daily news, Bennington addresses the ugly truth about what happens when the headlines are forgotten. One reviewer writes, “Reunion will cause you to cry, smile, hope, and cower under your blanket…all I can say is, this book is a masterpiece.” International Bestselling author, Joe Moore says, "Jeff Bennington cuts right to the heart of darkness and evil in REUNION. Don't plan on getting any sleep once you start reading." Scott Nicholson, Bestselling author and Bram Stoker nominee writes, "Reunion tackles a controversial subject with dramatic insight and grace."

Jeff Bennington is asking all of his family, friends and followers to buy a copy on April 15^th, to help send Reunion to Amazon’s Top 100, even if it’s for just one day. This is an opportunity to see what a well-written book by an Indie author can do when given the opportunity to be exposed to a world of readers who otherwise would not seek out this talented author.

What can you do?

1. Buy a copy (eBook, print or both) at http://www.amazon.com/Reunion-ebook/dp/B004S7AR0E

2. Re-tweet this announcement

3. Share this with your Facebook friends.

4. Ask your friends and neighbors to get a copy.

Jeff Bennington is the author of other thrillers and will release his next supernatural thriller, Act of Vengeance in late 2011. He is the author of the blog, The Writing Bomb and will be on a 45-day blog tour, stopping at many highly rated book review blogs from April 1^st through May 15^th. To learn more, go to jeffbennington.com

Available in Print and Kindle at Amazon.com

Book Review: Reunion by Jeff Bennington

Reunion – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat

2011

334 Pages

Nexgate Press

ISBN# 9780615450865

‘Breathing heavy from carrying the tote across the parking lot, David barged into the cafeteria, shot one round into the ceiling and shouted, “Attention everyone! Attention! My name’s David Ray, and some of you…are gonna die!” For a moment, the crowd sat quiet and still. David made a mental note of their blank faces. They probably think it’s a firecracker or a joke, he thought. I’ll show ‘em it isn’t a joke. Mr. Gardner strutted toward David, exuding his authority, but David pulled the trigger and shot a couple of the students nearby. Mr. Gardner threw his arms over his head, ducked down and crawled toward the wounded students to help. David squinted hard, looked into the crowd with dead eyes, and began shooting. Bodies scattered as the cafeteria erupted with screams, falling bullet shells, the squeaking of sliding sneakers and the turning over of chairs. He watched their scared bodies hide and tremble in fear and listened to their voices question who and why. Their fear gave him strength, feeding his adrenalin, pressing him deeper into the crowd. He knew exactly where to go. His tormentors’ locations were too predictable. The cliques always sat in the same places. David stepped forward and located his prey. He shot another round and heard another scream. He repeated the process, over, and over.’

The school massacre took place 20 years ago ending with eight students dead, several wounded physically but many more wounded mentally. Maria Vasquez lost her beloved Darrin, and to cope with her memories became a counselor working with PTSD patients. As the 20^th anniversary of the killings as well as the 20^th reunion of her graduating classapproached, Maria decided that there were probably others from her class that might benefit from a reunion as a way of facing their memories and fears.

Of those Maria was able to contact, only five responded and agreed to the reunion. Up until the day of the massacre, senior student Bryan Jacobs had planned to become a doctor. His plans changed and he became a policeman in hopes of helping to prevent the event from reoccurring. He would attend the reunion. Kate Schmidt Tooley still lived in the town of Crescent Falls and was married to Nick. Nick’s twin brother Randy was killed when David Ray mistakenly shot him instead of Nick. Nick deals with his memories by drowning them and seeing “ghosts” of David who he feels is trapped within the school Kate will be attending but probably without Nick. Lana Jones became a writer who, along with her daughter Zoe, travels around the country talking to students about the David Rays in the world. She will attend. Tanner Khan deals with his memories by creating challenges. He climbs mountains, crosses rivers and sails oceans. But when the invitation came to return to Crescent Falls for the reunion, he saw this as his biggest challenge and accepts.

These are the five who accepted the invitation to create a reunion. When it is decided to hold the actual event at the school itself, Bryan starts to have second thoughts. As part of his duty as a policeman he checks on the now deserted school. He has heard sounds and seen things at the old school that are out of the norm. But he also feels, like the others, that this may be the best place to start healing.

As I read Reunion I felt like I had stepped into a movie. As I followed each character’s story and their method of coping with their own tragedy I felt as if I knew them personally. This book is so well written that if it isn’t picked up to be made into a movie then the industry is missing out. The characters, story and events are so believable that you can’t help but picture each as something you’ve just read in the paper or seen on a news strip. For those of you who enjoy a great paranormal mystery, Reunion is a must read!

Available in Print and Kindle at Amazon.com

Jeff Bennington is asking all of his family, friends and followers to buy a copy on April 15^th, to help send Reunion to Amazon’s Top 100, even if it’s for just one day. This is an opportunity to see what a well-written book by an Indie author can do when given the opportunity to be exposed to a world of readers who otherwise would not seek out this talented author.

Reunion by Jeff Bennington

David Ray killed eight students and then turned the gun on himself. He thought the shooting and suicide would fix his world. It didn't. The massacre threw Tanner Khan and the other survivors into chaos.

Twenty years later, Tanner and his fellow classmates reluctantly agree to hold a reunion to lay the past to rest. Although they suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they come back to their hometown and reunite in the defunct school building. Old flames are rekindled, fears are ignited, and their lives are about to explode in a whirlwind of memories, haunted by the spirit of David Ray.

Once inside the old school, they discover that a dark entity has joined them. It has come to collect a debt, long overdue, and someone has to pay. Will Tanner and his classmates overcome their fears and put the pieces of their lives back together, or will they be consumed by their worst nightmare?

****This multi-genre thriller has, at times, elements of the supernatural, horror, romance, and certainly suspense, without disregard for the trauma and long term Post Traumatic Stress that many survivors will deal with the rest of their lives.

REUNION READER REVIEWS:

"Jeff Bennington cuts right to the heart of darkness and evil in REUNION. Don't plan on getting any sleep once you start reading." - Joe Moore, international bestselling co-author of THE 731 LEGACY and THE GRAIL CONSPIRACY.

"Reunion tackles a controversial subject with dramatic insight and grace." - Bestselling author & Bram Stoker nominee, Scott Nicholson, author of The Red Church

"When I started reading Reunion I was shocked by the quality of writing. Natural dialogue, good flow, interesting story, and efficient prose—it's all in there! This book draws you in quickly and doesn't let go." - Neal Hock, Bookhound's Den

"The malevolent entity in REUNION typifies the dark side of the paranormal. Jeff Bennington's new thriller is haunting my dreams." - Michael Clark, Executive Producer of Ghost Guys and Ghost Guys LIVE.

Book Review: Reunion by Jeff Bennington

Jeff Bennington, author of The Rumblin’, has been praised by many for his works. His ability to accurately depict the “dark” side of human emotions especially shines in his new book, Reunion.

David Ray, murderer of classmates and destroyer of dreams, shot himself and died on graduation day. Twenty years later, several survivors are determined to go back to the place where their fears originated: Crescent Falls High School. Most of them had left Crescent Falls without a backwards glance after the massacre, but suddenly they felt a need to overcome the past. Unfortunately, mysterious things have been happening at the place where their reunion is to be held. The survivors unknowingly walk straight into the death trap… to possibly never come back out.

A supernatural horror that would grab your interest (and also your heart) and never let go, the Reunion will cause you to cry, smile, hope, and cower under your blanket, though not necessarily in that order. To conclude, all I can say is this: this book is a masterpiece." - 1412, Goodreads Reviewer

Available in Print and Kindle at Amazon.com

NOOK ebook at Barnes&Noble.com

Smashwords

Jeff Bennington Takes His New Book REUNION on a 45 Day Blog Tour

REUNION

David Ray kills eight in a failed attempt to fix his world. Twenty years later, the survivors organize a reunion. Old flames rekindle, fears ignite, and their lives explode in a whirlwind of memories. Will the classmates overcome their fears or be consumed by their nightmares?

Links:

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10467702-reunion

Amazon Kindle Edition: http://tinyurl.com/48ror4u

Amazon Print: http://tinyurl.com/4gvpfyw

B&N eBook: http://tinyurl.com/6dcrsgm

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44678

Giveaways:

Starting April 1, I'm going on a blog tour until May 15th. During this time I'll be giving away 1 Kindle and two signed copies of REUNION.

For Blog tour details and rules, go to http://jeffbennington.com/

Tour Schedule

April

1 - Candace's Book Blog - "The Story behind the Story." (REUNION available to eReaders.)

2 - The Cajun Book Lady - "Meet the Survivors."

3 - Julia Madeleine's Blog - "Why write fiction about a school shooting?"

4 - Bewitched Book Worms - "Why ghosts make great antagonists."

5 - Indie Paranormal Book Reviews - "Creating back story: David Ray's dark past."

6 - The Creative Penn - "Got Story? - Get Edited."

7 - Pinnacle Writing - "Author Interview."

8 - Jemima Valentino's Blog - "Book to Print: The Making of a Story."

9 - Swamp Dwellers, Dark Fiction Book reviews - "The Dark in Fiction."

10 - Jennifer Wylie's Blog - "Author Interview."

11 - Kait Nolan - "Supernatural, Love, and Fear."

12 - The Writing Bomb - "Character Interview with Lana Jones & Noah Berkley."

13 - Reading Without Restraint - "Twenty years after the shooting."

14 - Good Choice Reading - "Jeff's only Live Interview: Open questions from host and followers."

15 - Preternatural Primer - "Building Suspense one Ghost at a Time."

16 - 100 Stars or Less - "Author interview"

17 - Readaholic - "My experience with Blog tours... so far."

18 - Lost For Words - "Interviewing Tanner Khan: The Lost Survivor."

19 - I Am a Reader Not a Writer - "Author interview."

20 - The Writing Bomb - "Remembering Columbine: April, 20, 1999."

21 - Go YAY Reviews - TBA

22 - Reena's Blog - "Making a story go from scratch."

23 - Wakela's World - TBA

24 - You Wanna Know What I Think? - "The Motivation Behind Reunion."

25 - The Book Tree - TBA

26 - My Reading Room - "Author Interview"

27 - My Neurotic Book Affair - "Character Interview with Nick Tooley: The cRaZy One."

28 - Courtney Conant's Blog - "Questions about REUNION."

29 - The Writing Bomb - "Character Interview With Kate Schmidt Tooley: ."

30 - Paranormal Haven - "I'll have a Love, Ghosts and Fear Martini."

May

1 - The Writing Bomb - "Character Interview with Maria Vasquez: The Lonely One" (REUNION Available in Print!)

2 - My Eclectic Bookshelf - "My life as a Guest Blogger!"

3 - Fang-tastic Books - "Why I write Supernatural Thrillers."

4 - Bookhound's Den - "Proofing REUNION, what the Bookhound discovered."

5 - Patricia's Vampire Notes - "The story of Earl: My real ghost experience."

6 - AOBibliosphere - "Getting the story into Print and the Passion behind it."

7 - Book Noise - "How to Make a Book Read Loudly!"

8 - TzhaBella's Book Shelf - "Thoughts on Bringing Life into Paper."

9 - Rex Robot Reviews - "Thoughts on Plotting: How to pull it all together."

10 - JoJo's Book Corner - "Would the Correct Genre Please Stand!"

11 - Paul Joseph Writes - "Why Bullies Suck!"

12 - Frugal Family -

13 - OPEN: Last day of The REUNION Blog Tour!

14 - The Writing Bomb - Tour Wrap Up...Packing for Vacation.

14 - The Book Worm Blog - TBA

15 - Announce Winners of Kindle Giveaway!

Jeff Bennington author of Reunion and Killing the Giants

I'm Jeff Bennington, the author of Reunion (Due May 1, 2011), Killing the Giants, The Rumblin' (a short story) and Ten Dead (Due 2012). I write mostly thrillers and suspense, but I have dabbled in political thrillers and paranormal thrillers as well. Over the course of the next twelve months I will release two paranormal thrillers through my publishing imprint, nexGate press.

I live in Central Indiana with my wife, four children and two stray cats and teach a creative writing course. I also write a bunch of nonsense about writing on my blog, The Writing Bomb! BOOM!

Visit Jeff Bennington at IAN

REUNION

David Ray killed eight students and then turned the gun on himself. He thought the shooting and suicide would fix his world. It didn't. The massacre threw Tanner Khan and the other survivor's world into chaos.

Twenty years later, Tanner and his fellow classmates reluctantly agree to hold a class reunion. Although they all suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, they come back to their hometown and reunite in the defunct school building. Old flames are rekindled, fears are ignited, and their lives are about to explode in a whirlwind of memories, haunted by the spirit of David Ray.

Once they get inside their alma mater, they discover that a dark entity has come to join them. Whatever it is, it has come to collect a debt and someone has to pay! Will Tanner and his classmates overcome their fears, or will they be consumed by their worst nightmare
?