Dust to Dust (Prophecy (Mira)) [Mass Market Paperback]

Heather Graham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 2009 | Series: Prophecy (Mira) (Book 1)

Not long ago, Scott Bryant would have described himself as an ordinary guy. But one act of heroism has changed his life forever—or at least until the apocalypse occurs. Because the end of the world is on its way.

Suddenly and inexplicably possessed of superhuman strength, Scott finds himself allied with the enigmatic and alluring Melanie Regan in a quest to find the mysterious Oracle in hopes of averting the absolute destruction that threatens.

Melanie herself has been falling into trances, sketching terrifying visions of future events—and she wants answers. She knows better than Scott where to look for help, but even she cannot fathom the powers that have thrust them together in an epic battle of good against evil.

The earth itself will soon turn against its inhabitants, and now mortal and immortal must join forces if any are to survive.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestseller Graham's new paranormal series, linked to her Alliance books (most recently 2007's Blood Red), gets off to an uneven start. What seems like a chance encounter in a Los Angeles alley is a life-changing moment for Scott Bryant when an old man reveals he is one of 12 incarnated astrological signs who will be called upon as our saviors on doomsday. Further information emerges slowly, and Scott's floundering as he tries to figure out what's going on may frustrate both new and returning readers. Scott and romantic interest Melanie Ryan primarily engage with each other and their foes and allies, leaving the world they're committed to saving as more of an abstract concept, but Graham's compelling nightmare and battle scenes and descriptive romantic encounters are mostly enough to keep the pages turning. (July)
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About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Heather Graham has written more than one hundred novels, many of which have been featured by the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. An avid scuba diver, ballroom dancer and mother of five, she still enjoys her south Florida home, but loves to travel as well, from locations such as Cairo, Egypt, to her own backyard, the Florida Keys. Reading, however, is the pastime she still loves best, and she is a member of many writing groups. She’s currently the vice president of the Horror Writers’ Association, and she’s also an active member of International Thriller Writers. She is very proud to be a Killerette in the Killer Thriller Band, along with many fellow novelists she greatly admires. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Mira; Original edition (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778326543
• ISBN-13: 978-0778326540
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #746,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #38 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Graham, Heather

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today best selling author, Heather Graham was born somewhere in Europe and kidnapped by gypsies when she was a small child. She went on to join the Romanian circus as a trapeze artist and lion tamer. When the circus came to South Florida, she stayed, discovering that she preferred to be a shark and gator trainer.

Not really.

Heather is the child of Scottish and Irish immigrants who met and married in Chicago, and moved to South Florida, where she has spent her life. (She has, at least, been to the Russian circus in Moscow, where she wished she was one of the incredibly talented and coordinated trapeze artists.) She majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write. Her first book was with Dell, and since then, she has written over one hundred and fifty novels and novellas including category, suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, horror, and Christmas family fare.

She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty-five languages, and has had over seventy-five million books in print. She has been honored with awards from Walden Books, B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, the Lifetime Achievement Award from RWA and more. Heather has also become the proud recipient of the Silver Bullet from Thriller Writers. Heather has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, Mystery Book Club, People and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including Today, Entertainment Tonight and local television.

Heather loves travel and anything that has to do with the water, and is a certified scuba diver. She also loves ballroom dancing. Each year she hosts the Vampire Ball and Dinner theater at the RT convention raising money for the Pediatric Aids Society and in 2006 she hosted the first Writers for New Orleans Workshop to benefit the stricken Gulf region. She is also the founder of "The Slush Pile Players", presenting something that's almost like entertainment for various conferences and benefits. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost bit the dust, July 3, 2009

By 

Deborah Verlen "Deborah" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dust to Dust (Prophecy Series) (Audio CD)

If you enjoy Heather Graham, this book may disappoint you. The story is a bit convoluted and the writing a bit uneven.

Graphic artist Scott Bryant and dog trainer Melanie Regan suddenly find themselves with "super" powers one day; Scott finds himself possessed of super strength and Melanie finds she can draw events that haven't happened yet even though she has shown no artistic skills before. They travel to Rome to seek a mysterious oracle.

In Rome, Scott and Melanie realize they will have to fight to save humanity from the apocalypse.

The book does move very slowly in parts. It seems to take a long time to get the point. While this is the first book in a series, I think the author could have moved things along faster in the beginning. If you hang in there though, the story does pick up and will hold your interest.

This is the first book in a series of four entitled The Prophecy. Each book will focus on one of the elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Hopefully the other books in the series will pick up the pace.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars "All they are is dust in the wind.' Song lyrics, June 30, 2011

By 

michael a. draper (Guilford, CT) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dust to Dust (Prophecy (Mira)) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a story that immediately interested me as the action unfolded and the battle of good against evil began.

Scott Bryant is a normal guy who is out with a couple of buddies when an elederly couple is attacked by a gang. Scott and his friends decide to save the couple. In the heat of battle, the elderly man who was being beaten notices Scott and tells him that he, Scott is Capricorn. With that pronouncement, Scott felt a power come over him and he led the attack against the gang.

The reader witnesses Scott's trying to deal with his new strength. That night, he dreams of the Oracle and saw another, like himself, heading toward this Oracle. This Oracle was a saving place and there was a meaning that Scott couldn't yet, understand. There were also many skeletons that seemed to be evil and coming to life.

Melanie is also beginning to have talents and power she didn't know she had. She decides to take action against a gang robbing on a store owner and assaulting his young clerk. Suddenly Scott is by her side and they overcome the robbers and save the clerk.

Heather Graham has a talent for making things seem possible and there is something about the bravery of these characters that is refreshing and draws the readers to them. In today's world where many people don't want to become involved when trouble occurs, these characters make a choice to help others.

We are also aware of sinister forces that are forecast.

Told in a manner that reminded me of Stephen King's "The Stand," Scott and Melanie follow a spiritual summons to Rome to Sister Maria Elizabeth. This is reminiscent of the ancient but wise Mother Abigail who is the leader of the good survivors in "The Stand."

The elderly Sister Maria Elizabeth is a beacon to others and informs Scott and Milanie that when the others arrive, the battle for earth will begin.

Heather Graham's work is highly entertaining. Although the real action is slow to unfold, the characters are interesting and fully developed. The plot of "Dust to Dust" is clever and well developed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Like a video game come to life, August 28, 2009

By 

J. Mullally "booklover4ever00" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dust to Dust (Prophecy (Mira)) (Mass Market Paperback)

(What's this?)

This was so unreal as to be like a video game come to life as the hero and heroine battle against skeletons, vampires, and other undead, plus a demon out to destroy the earth. Based on the principle of earth, air, fire and water, which has been done to death at this point, the hero Scott is strength of the earth and does battle in the catacombs of Rome to save the planet and win the love of the lady dog trainer Melanie. The writing is simple, the plan for the series making the book comples with a whole bunch of walk on parts to set up for other books, and also revisit her old ones, which she gives us a loooong list of at the front of the book. What makes this novel even more tedious is the switch from first person narrative to 3rd person and back again, and how Scott's thoughts are so repetitive. The romance and love scenes fail to shine. This is an entertaining book if you like TV shows like Heroes or video game but it's a bit too childish for my tastes.