Friday, November 30, 2018

Book Blitz & Giveaway - CITY OF MASKS by Ashley Capes


City of Masks
Ashley Capes
(Bone Mask Trilogy #1)
Publication date: August 14th 2016
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
A noble daughter burdened by power she never sought.
Perched on an unforgiving coast, the city of Anaskar is under threat from enemies within. Its own royal family feuds over possession of sentient bone masks of power, leaving Sofia Falco, daughter to the city’s Lord Protector, to foil a conspiracy designed to strip her father of both his title and powerful Greatmask.
A bitter mercenary accused of murder.
Yet when disaster strikes, Sofia is forced to flee the palace and into the city where she crosses paths with mercenary Notch. But Notch has his own problems – accused of murder, he must fight to clear his name, all the while hunted by the city’s robed assassins, the very people who are now searching for Sofia.
A young Pathfinder seeking vengeance.
Meanwhile, far across the western desert, Pathfinder Ain must overcome his doubts and leave on a hopeless quest. To restore his people to their rightful home, he must unlock the ancient mystery of Anaskar’s Sea Shrine and the gargantuan sea beast that lurks beneath its harbour. Yet all who have gone before him have failed…
Follow three unlikely heroes on an epic fantasy adventure where the struggle over bone masks of power threatens to tear their city – and kingdom – into shreds.
Learn more about City of Masks!
What were your cultural influences for the world creation for The Bone Mask Trilogy? Why those?
The main influence was probably Italy for setting it was the coast of Amalfi in particular. The historical city was perched on the coast and actually slid from the mountain into the sea in the 14th Century so there’s a bit of that influence on the city of Anaskar itself.
I also found smaller details from the region fun to incorporate into the setting, particularly the fire-lemon which is similar to limoncello, and a lot of the naming conventions are Italian-influenced with some Latin too. For a quick example, one character is named Lupo which would make his name “Wolf” in English. I followed such naming conventions throughout the city with people and placenames ─ all save the city itself Anaskar. (It’s not strictly very Italian-sounding because it’s actually a city that has been named by the previous occupants so I didn’t want it to sound too Italian influenced.)
I think Italy has ended up the biggest influence because back in 2011 (when I first had the idea for a city under threat by a sea monster) my wife and I were in Italy and we were immediately smitten by the country ─ it was one of those once in a lifetime trips and I think I was just keen to soak in everything.
City of Masks weaves together politics, history, culture, and the action in this book. What kinds of research influenced the politics of your world?
Thanks! I drew upon monarchies and tribal systems mostly ─ always looking at where power lies in a group, I guess. Is it shared or is it guarded jealously? If it’s disrupted, who takes what is left? Those sorts of questions are fun to explore as a writer.
I remember reading a lot about various royal families who always featured a brother or son (or uncle) keen to knock off a few family members on their way up to the throne. I think it was the shadowy Richard III that I recall the most.
I think all political structures tend to have an undeniable element of personality; the forceful, confident or clever tend to have the ability to direct others, no matter their title or lack of. With the desert-dwelling Medah people, for instance, despite there being multiple elders in the Cloud clan it’s clear that Raila is holds the most sway; she tends to command the most respect in the group.
Do you have a playlist that you used while writing City of Masks?
Sort of! Nothing like a specific playlist on Spotify etc, but here’s some of the albums that I remember playing quite a lot during the writing (and editing) of the story:
Pink Floyd – Animals
Prince – Sign o the Times
Killswitch Engage – Alive of Just Breathing
Opeth – Ghost Reveries
Black Sabbath – Heaven and Hell
Yo Yo Ma – Silk Road Ensemble
Janko Nilovic – Rythmes Contemporains


Author Bio:
Ashley is an Australian novelist, poet & teacher. You might have read his epic fantasy 'The Bone Mask Trilogy' or maybe you're familiar with his other work, the fantasy/adventure series 'The Book of Never.' Either way, you can read more about his books and get access to giveaways and free books via his newsletter below :)
Ashley occasionally dabbles in film, is addicted to 80s cartoon shows and Studio Ghibli films, and finds himself constantly awed by the simple beauty of haiku. He is also convinced that 'Magnum PI' is one of the greatest TV shows ever.
Sign up to Ashley's newsletter for free books and news:
http://www.subscribepage.com/b5w1k0
Find out about Ashley's fiction:
http://www.cityofmasks.com/
Check out Ashley's poetry:
http://www.ashleycapes.com/

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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Book Review - UNTOUCHABLE by Jayne Ann Krentz

Title: Untouchable
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense and Romance
Publisher: Penguin Group LLC (USA)
Release Date: January 8, 2019
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW!


About the Book:

A man's quest to find answers for those who are haunted by the past leads him deeper into the shadows in this electrifying novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Promise Not to Tell.

Quinton Zane is back.

Jack Lancaster, consultant to the FBI, has always been drawn to the coldest of cold cases, the kind that law enforcement either considers unsolvable or else has chalked up to accidents or suicides. As a survivor of a fire, he finds himself uniquely compelled by arson cases. His almost preternatural ability to get inside the killer's head has garnered him a reputation in some circles--and complicated his personal life. The more cases Jack solves, the closer he slips into the darkness. His only solace is Winter Meadows, a meditation therapist. After particularly grisly cases, Winter can lead Jack back to peace. 

But as long as Quinton Zane is alive, Jack will not be at peace for long. Having solidified his position as the power behind the throne of his biological family's hedge fund, Zane sets out to get rid of Anson Salinas's foster sons, starting with Jack.
Buy Links: Amazon 
Available for Pre-Order - Release Date January 8, 2019

My Review:

This is the third book in the Cutler, Sutten & Solinski series and it could actually be read as a stand-alone. But don't. You will want to read this series from the beginning because it is so dang good you won't want to miss anything! 

After reading the first two books in this series, I was anxiously waiting for this third book to come out and I was so thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC so that I didn't have to wait until January. Although I had a tough time putting this one down, I didn't connect as well to the characters and the romance was a bit stiff. Sort of wham bam thank you mam. But I can overlook most of that because the story was so sit-on-the-edge-of-my-seat exciting! Actually, one of my favorite characters was Arizona. I would have liked to have seen more of her. 

I hovered between 4 and 5 wine glasses on this one, but ended up with 4.


My Rating:

About the Author:


The author of over 50 New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 35 million copies of her books in print.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Book Blitz & Giveaway - FORGOTTEN GHOSTS by Eric R. Asher


Forgotten Ghosts
Eric R. Asher
Publication date: November 13th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
A necromancer’s fear. A family’s fate. An ancient spirit with a new alliance.
I shouldn’t have told myself things couldn’t get any worse. They did.
As Nixie struggles to unite the water witches, the Fae king discovers a spy in his ranks. We’re forced to split our focus and our powers between the unrest in Faerie and the rising tensions in Falias. When Nudd’s latest gambit puts humanity’s most dangerous weapons into his hands, we can’t let anything stand in our way. We’ll need help from new contacts and trusted allies if we hope to stop the Fae king’s madness.
But the award for worst timing in history goes to an old friend: Vicky.
EXCERPT:
At first, the mass appeared to be a wall of snakes, surging out from one of the cells and splattering against the far wall. But instead of a wet thump, the shadowy forms cracked into the very stone. Among the undulating mass of slithering things, I heard the fall of rock and metal clattering across the floor.
I tried to concentrate on my footing, careful not to twist an ankle, as we attempted to outrun the massive shadows. A moment later, the dullahan’s eyes disappeared in the distance, and those snakelike forms broke into a halo of light. As they crossed through, I could see they were caked in mud, blood, and other viscera I couldn’t identify. One thing I was sure of: they weren’t snakes.
“What is that?” I shouted.
Morrigan glowed. Between one step and the next, the crone became the raven, and she rocketed forward on oily black wings. “Burn them!” the bird squawked.
Throwing an incantation while running was a sure way to miss your target. But one thing Zola had taught me was if you threw a large-enough ball of fire in an enclosed space, you didn’t really need to aim. “Magnus Ignatto!”
I stumbled as the power ripped through me. I felt what was left of the hairs on my arms burn to a crisp. Morrigan, almost distant now, made the turn through the intersection and flew up the stairs. She’d be safe from the heat, though I wasn’t sure if she was susceptible to fire incantations. The chaotic wall of flame shot forward at irregular intervals until it crashed into the writhing mass of what now looked very much like lampreys or dying gray vines draped in gore and dripping blood I suspected was from our allies.
Whatever they were, they were sentient. The instant the flames hit and widened to the point that I couldn’t see down the hallway through the fire and pain in my arms, something else screamed. It wasn’t immediately recognizable as pain, as the sound was so deep and basso it took me a moment to understand the earth wasn’t shaking around me. I let the fires die away and gasped for breath as I stumbled forward, making my way for the staircase as the soles of my boots sizzled on the superheated stone beneath them.


Author Bio:
Eric is a former bookseller, cellist, and comic seller currently living in Saint Louis, Missouri. A lifelong enthusiast of books, music, toys, and games, he discovered a love for the written word after being dragged to the library by his parents at a young age. When he is not writing, you can usually find him reading, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers.
SPECIAL NOTE:  You can meet Eric Asher in person at the Coastal Magic Convention in Daytona Beach in February 2019. Learn more at https://coastalmagicconvention.com/ 

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Monday, November 26, 2018

Book Blitz & Giveaway - VALIANT by Merrie Destefano


Valiant
Merrie Destefano
Published by: Entangled: Teen
Publication date: December 4th 2018
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
The Valiant was supposed to save us. Instead, it triggered the end of the world.
Earth is in shambles. Everyone, even the poorest among us, invested in the Valiant’s space mining mission in the hopes we’d be saved from ourselves. But the second the ship leaves Earth’s atmosphere, our fate is sealed. The alien invasion begins. They pour into cities around the world through time portals, possessing humans, forcing us to kill one another.
And for whatever reason, my brother is their number one target.
Now the fate of the world lies in the hands of me, a seventeen-year-old girl, but with the help of my best friend, Justin―who’s suddenly starting to feel like more―maybe if we save my brother, we can save us all…
EXCERPT:
There’s a pain in my chest as I remember the first time I stumbled across a man with fists lined with metal spikes. I was walking through downtown Santa Ana with Justin, and it was one of those times when I thought, He’s totally going to kiss me tonight. It was back before I began traveling through time, before I found out just how dark the world could be. We were laughing and heading toward a frozen yogurt shop, and he slid his arm around my waist.
It might have been the first time I thought, This guy is it; he’s the one I could fall for. I knew he was a Genetic and that nobody wanted us to be together. But I didn’t care. He was sunshine on a dark night. He was heat when the cold winds blew.
I put my head on his shoulder.
It was only natural.
It was exactly right.
Then I saw the metal man, his brow furrowed as if his heart held all the anger in the world. He was chaos and destruction and he was walking toward us, eyes like fire, like he wanted to kill us both.
Maybe he was looking at Justin. Metal men hate Genetics, because in a real battle, Genetics win. It doesn’t matter how much metal you’ve grafted onto your skin or bones—it might make you stronger, but you’re slower, too. Nobody can match the speed and natural strength of a Genetic. So, this guy might have been looking at Justin and challenging him, but it felt like I was going to be collateral damage.
One swing of his spike-covered fist and I’d be dead.
But I didn’t have to worry about it for long, because Justin pushed me behind him. I couldn’t see his face, but I could see the metal man. Doubt flickered in his eyes; he paused and glanced to the side. He was probably looking for a way out.
Justin took a step forward, his hands curled in fists. When he spoke, his voice came out like thunder, a loud, low growl that rumbled through my spine.
“Don’t even think about it,” Justin said. “Take one more step and I’ll rip out your metal implants, one by one. They hurt going in, so you better believe it’ll be a mother when I pull them out.”
He paused to laugh, but I’d never heard him laugh like that before. It was chilling, like he was a different person. He continued to warn the metal man. “Especially when I twist those implants sideways and the roots tear off chunks of your flesh.”
The metal man narrowed his eyes, and there was a split second when I thought he was going to tackle Justin.
Maybe he would have.
But he didn’t get a chance. It was like Justin knew the metal man’s plan, like it was an open football playbook. Justin rushed him, grabbed the guy around the waist, and slammed him against the brick wall of a local tattoo parlor. It took the wind out of the metal man’s lungs, and he was temporarily stunned. Justin could have slugged him; he could have broken the guy’s arms; he could have killed him.
All he did was lean close enough to whisper in the guy’s ear.
Then Justin stepped back and let the thug slide to the sidewalk in a heap. The metal man caught his breath, his eyes flickered, and he glanced up at us. Then he floundered to his hands and knees and crawled away as fast as he could. By the time he got to his feet, we were surrounded by a Friday-night club crowd, most of them drunk and all of them laughing at the metal man as he ran away.
Justin didn’t even hit the guy.
Sometimes you can win by intimidation alone.
So, do I melt every time I see this boy, who was willing to fight to protect me?
You better believe it.


Author Bio:
Born in the Midwest, former magazine editor Merrie Destefano currently lives in Southern California with her husband, two German shepherds, a Siamese cat, and the occasional wandering possum. Her favorite hobbies are reading speculative fiction and watching old Star Trek episodes, and her incurable addiction is writing. She loves to camp in the mountains, walk on the beach, watch old movies, and listen to alternative music—although rarely all at the same time.

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!


Janna and I will be taking the day off today so that we can spend time with our families, and I hope that you will do the same. Enjoy these moments and no matter how difficult life can be at times, remember that there is always something in your life that you can be thankful for.

God Bless You!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!






Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Book Review - ALL BUT THE FALL by Kim Turner

Title:  All But the Fall (Sun River Ranchers, Book 1)
Author:  Kim Turner
Genre:  Western, Contemporary Romance
Release Date:  October 15, 2018


About the Book:
She's running from the past…He's running to her…
Stunt man Aaron Decker has his hands full raising his daughter, running his ranch and jumping horses for a living. The new job on the set of a western has its perks; it's close to home and offers him a sizeable paycheck. But what he doesn't expect is to fall hard for beautiful nurse consultant, Jenna Wilder.

Putting a violent marriage behind her, Jenna Wilder is raising her son, writing scripts, and has sworn off ever falling in love again. So why can't she keep her mind off the soft-spoken stuntman? With Aaron, she dreams of a life she thought wasn't possible. 

But when Jenna's past returns, Aaron must gain her trust to free her from the grips of her ex-husband's vengeance. And no matter the risk, he will stop at nothing to protect the woman who holds his heart.

From the Inside Flap:
It had been a long time since a woman had caught his attention to this extent. Nope, he'd never had anyone, even Pamela come this close. Something about the chemistry between them was stronger than he'd ever known could exist. She was consuming him fast, and he damn well liked it.

Last night after checking on the horses, Jenna had driven them to a local diner for supper. The meal had been fine, but he'd caught himself watching her every move as if he could etch a bit of her into his mind and heart. Yep, he had it bad. And watching her drive away opposite his direction for home had left him all but empty.

The good thing was she hadn't run again from his touch, but it was hard to judge where the boundaries were with her. What he really wanted was no limits-- holy damn, she was beautiful inside and out, and he had a few ideas about how much he'd like to discover even more. And while she'd told him of her past, which was pretty trusting, he had to wonder if there was indeed more. Someone somewhere had broken this beautiful creature, and if he had his way, he'd bring her back and hang on tightly for the rest of his life--if she'd have him.

Buy Links: Amazon 

My Review:
Although this book still involves Cowboys, this contemporary romance is new for author Kim Turner, who generally writes historic western romance novels. But I must say that she nailed this new genre! I loved it and I'm looking for more in this series!

That being said, there were several editing problems (very uncharacteristic with her other novels) and I'm hoping the publisher can do something about that.  I won't take away stars for that because sometimes things like that just happen. As for the story, the fantastic characters, and the heart-racing plot, I give a big thumbs up to Kim Turner. She goes well beyond a typical romance novel by adding suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat. And the research regarding the nursing and medical field as well as the research regarding the care of horses was right on target.

The main characters, Jenna and Aaron, had a chemistry that could not be denied and they were the perfect match for helping each other with trust issues and a devotion to each other that really warmed my heart. But now I want more about the other brothers, Jeremiah and Gabe, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this author will give us at least two more books in this series.

My Rating:


About the Author:
Kim Turner writes western historical romance, and discovered her passion of writing at the age of eight by writing poems, short stories and journals. Kim graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and holds a Master's Degree in Adult Education from Central Michigan University. Working as a registered nurse educator for over twenty-six years, she enjoys studying the medical treatments of the old west as well as keeping up with the latest western movies and television series. While she loves reading anything from highlanders to pirates, she claims to have an unquenchable thirst for the American Cowboy when choosing her reads. Kim lives south of Atlanta with her husband and calls her greatest accomplishment the birth of one daughter and the adoption of another from China-neither of which came easy. Kim is a member of Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers and calls her critique group from Southside Scribes the best thing that ever happened to her writing, that and a pretty wonderful group of beta readers. Kim's Motto: It's All About A Cowboy and the Woman He Loves.

If you'd like to learn more about Kim Turner, check out her blog at KimTurnerWrites.com




Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Book Blitz & Giveaway - COWBOYS FOR CHRISTMAS by Kim Law, Liz Talley & Terri Osburn


Cowboys for Christmas
Kim Law, Liz Talley, Terri Osburn
(A Holly Hills Anthology)
Publication date: November 19th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
3 cowboys…2 weeks…1 wedding!
Claire, Georgia, and Mary Catherine couldn’t be more different, but they promised they would be there for one another no matter what. And when they all gather in Holly Hills, Texas, for Mary Catherine’s Christmas wedding, they’ll find they have one thing in common: hearts that are about to be branded—by unforgettable cowboys.
In “Love Me, Cowboy” by Terri Osburn, wallflower Claire would be more excited about the wedding if it didn’t mean running into Mary Catherine’s brother—the bull rider she once had a scorching one-night stand with…
Ivy League volleyball coach Georgia never wanted to see Holly Hills—or another cowboy—again. But a sexy veterinarian is making her rethink her vow to never marry a Texas man in “Kiss Me, Cowboy” by Liz Talley.
Claire and Georgia both think that Mary Catherine is getting hitched to the wrong man, despite
how perfect he is. And in “Marry Me, Cowboy” by Kim Law, a local rancher with a wild reputation gives Mary Catherine a glimpse of what might have been—and what could still be…
SNEAK PEEKS!
Love Me, Cowboy by Terri Osburn
Crossing the short distance to where he’d left his tools near the back of the truck, Tyler bent down and lifted with his left arm, only to have the box drop back to the floor with a crash. He gripped his left shoulder as his face contorted in pain.
“Tyler? What’s wrong?” Claire was afraid to touch his arm for fear of hurting him more. “Tell me what to do. I don’t know how to help.”
“It’s fine,” he said through a clenched jaw, then took several deep breaths, keeping his eyes closed. “I just forget sometimes.”
Claire caught herself taking deep breaths with him and had to make herself stop. “Forget what?” she asked.
Dropping his hand, Tyler opened his eyes and slowly lowered his shoulders. “The face wasn’t the only thing damaged in the accident. As I said at the Thirsty Cowboy the other night, my shoulder got torn up pretty bad, too. Doc has me in physical therapy and it’s mostly healed, but the weight of the toolbox was too much, I guess.”
He guessed? The man had taken years off her life with that reaction. The pain must have been excruciating to take his breath like that.
“Thank goodness you won’t be doing that anymore.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, working his shoulder up and down. “Picking up the toolbox? Not with that arm, I won’t.”
“Not the toolbox,” Claire said with a roll of her eyes. “Riding bulls. No more climbing onto the back of a beast that would rather kill you than let you stay there.”
Tyler’s face turned serious. “I have every intention of getting back on a bull.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious.”
Claire threw a hand on her hip. “If that’s supposed to be a joke, it isn’t funny.”
“I don’t make jokes about my life.” His eyes darkened. “My life. I’m a bull rider, and I’m going to continue being one. No matter what you or my sister or anyone else says.”
Jerking the toolbox off the ground with his good arm, Tyler slammed it onto the truck bed, then hopped up after it. Claire had to shuffle around to the back so she could use the bumper to climb up, but she wasn’t about to let this stubborn cowboy walk away from this argument.
“Your sister loves you,” she yelled, storming across the empty flatbed. “And I . . .” She what? Loved him? Unfortunately so, but she wasn’t about to tell him. “I care about you, too. That bull could have killed you.”
“And I could get hit by a truck tomorrow. Doesn’t mean I’m going to hide in my house.”
“That isn’t the same and you know it.” Why couldn’t he see what getting back on a bull would do to the people around him? How they’d feel if the worst happened?
Tyler turned so quickly, Claire nearly charged into him. “What if someone told you to stop teaching?”
“What?”
“Didn’t your parents push you to be a lawyer? To do your civic duty and join the family business of running towns and making decisions for other people?”
Her situation was nothing like his. “Being a teacher isn’t going to get me killed.”
“No? How many school shootings have we had in the past few years?” Tyler asked. “Life is random, Claire. A meteor could kill us all tomorrow. You have to live while you can, the way you want.” His voice dropped as his eyes held hers. “I’m a bull rider. That’s what I do.”
Claire felt deflated. He was right. It was his life, and only he could decide how he wanted to live it. But that didn’t stop her from wishing he would choose another way.
“It’s going to kill your sister when you climb back on one of those bulls.”
And it will kill me, too, she thought.
“I can’t do what she’s done, Claire. I can’t walk away from the thing I love because it’s what other people think I should do.”
The need to grab him and hold on was so strong, Claire did the only thing possible.
She backed away.
“That banner probably needs to dry before being hung up. I’ll get someone to help me with it tomorrow.”
“Claire, don’t—”
“Mom’s expecting me for dinner.” Claire looked at her watch. Then at her feet. Anywhere but at the cowboy with his hand out. “You should head out, too. Thanks for helping the kids.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, but she barely heard the words as she hopped off the truck and stepped through the open warehouse door into a chilly December evening.
Kiss Me, Cowboy by Liz Talley
Reed didn’t say anything. Just watched her. The way her glossy lips shone in the neon glow, the way her eyes roved over the dance floor, the way that dress hugged every curve of her body.
Georgia’s gaze returned to his, and she must have seen the glint in his eyes. “I’m not going to sleep with you, you know.”
“What?”
“The way you’re looking at me, breaking in on my dance with Rusty, I can tell.”
“Rodney.”
“Who?”
“His name was Rodney. Not Rusty.”
“Oh,” she said.
“And I never said I wanted to sleep with you,” he said, hoping she couldn’t see straight through his bullshit. “I said I wanted to dance with you. See, those are two different things. For dancing, you usually keep your clothes on.”
“Depends on how you dance,” she said, cracking a smile. In her gaze he could see her trying to gain control. Her boldness seemed part of her protection. After Paul Milligan made the comment about Georgia growing up next door, he’d asked Tyler about his fiery damsel in distress. He now better understood the BMW, the fancy boots and jacket. He’d never been poor—quite the opposite—but he could imagine coming home to a town that had pigeonholed her. Not easy.
“Well, I suppose I could be talked into naked dancing by the right girl.”
“Too bad I’m not the right girl.”
Marry Me, Cowboy by Kim Law
Mary Catherine glanced causally around as she headed back to the bar, and this time she found Jax leaning against the far side of the counter.
He’d also found her.
His hat was pushed back on his head and those blue eyes she remembered so well were trained on her. And they didn’t seem anxious to move on anytime soon. Her breath hitched in her throat.
“Buy you a drink?” A dark-blond cutie asked when she stopped by an empty stool. “You’re the one getting married, right? I’m Tony. Me and my buddies here would be glad to protect your integrity tonight.” All five men gave her wide smiles.
She laughed with good humor. Her integrity didn’t need protecting, but she was there for some fun. And these guys were harmless. They’d been at the bar for a while now and didn’t seem to be looking for more than an entertaining Friday night off the ranch. “You and your buddies good at protecting a girl’s integrity, Tony?” she teased.
“The best.” He motioned for the bartender, and when asked what she wanted, she took another peek at Jax.
“Tequila,” she said. She winked at Tony. “Top shelf.”
Cuervo was her go-to for forgetting denim blue eyes.
Her brother came in then and caught her eye. He scanned the men now surrounding her and gave a wink—probably after also concluding that her integrity was intact—then turned his gaze away to take in the remainder of the crowd. Tyler was two years younger than her and was most definitely a town heartthrob. He’d been gorgeous for most of his life. Now he had a nasty slash across his left cheek.
It had only made him more good-looking.
A gaggle of women made their way over to him, and his broad face broke into a wide grin. The poor rodeo star, recovering from a bad throw from a bull. He didn’t seem to be suffering too much, that was for sure.
Mary Catherine shook her head at the unfairness of it all. If a woman came in with a scar like that, men would turn the other way. She rolled her eyes and leaned back against the bar, enjoying the night. The back of her neck suddenly tingled, and she knew without looking that he was looking at her.
The bartender set down the shot, and she tossed it back in one quick motion. It burned all the way down. She hissed in a breath between her teeth then took another peek at Jax.
Yep. Still looking. One eyebrow lifted subtly. That pissed her off. The man hadn’t spoken to her in ten years—other than to offer a foursome with two other women the night she’d been in here after her college graduation—and now, of all times, he showed up and wouldn’t look away.
As if something about her interested him.
Too damned bad. And ten years too late. She was an engaged woman now.
She motioned to the bartender for another drink.
“A girl who likes her tequila,” Tony muttered, leaning into the counter beside her. His eyes glowed with delight. “That’s pretty hot.”
Mary Catherine gave him a toothy grin. “Down boy. I’ve just decided I’m going to be drinking a lot tonight. Which means you have to behave.” She patted his shoulder. “I’m not expecting you to buy what I’m about to put away, though, so that’s the bright side. But I will take you up on that integrity thing. You keep me safe, okay? At least until my girls get back.”
She motioned to the dance floor with the second shot, where Georgia was dancing with Reed McCormick, and Claire was once again running from a handful of men. They’d been following her around all night as if she were a dog in heat.
“You got it.” Tony nodded like an obedient puppy and scooted in closer. He was taking the job seriously. The other four followed suit. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw no less than three women now crowding around Jax.
Maybe the four of them would have a foursome tonight.
Probably it was his regular Friday-night routine.
She downed the second shot and one of the guys ordered her a third, and then she returned to that night ten years ago…

Liz Bio:
A finalist in both RWA's prestigious Golden Heart award and RITA award, Liz Talley has found a home writing sassy contemporary romance. Her stories are set in the South where the tea is sweet, the summers are hot and the men are hotter. Liz lives in North Louisiana with her childhood sweetheart, two handsome children, three dogs and a mean kitty. You can visit Liz at www.liztalleybooks.com to learn more about her upcoming books.


Terri Bio:
Author of the Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestselling Anchor Island Series, Terri Osburn started putting words on the page in 2007. Five years later she was named a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest for unpublished manuscripts. That led to signing with an agent in June of 2012, and the publication of her debut novel, Meant To Be, with Montlake Romance in May 2013. Since then Terri has gone on to sell more than a million books worldwide, and her work has been translated into German, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, and French. Ms. Osburn resides in middle Tennessee with her college-student daughter, four frisky felines, and two troublesome terriers. When she isn't writing, she's either traveling the world to meet new readers, or taking on a home improvement project to justify the purchase of all the power tools now filling her garage.


Kim Bio:
As a child, award-winning author Kim Law cultivated a love for chocolate, anything purple, and creative writing. She penned her debut work, "The Gigantic Talking Raisin," in the sixth grade and got hooked on the delights of creating stories. Before settling into the writing life, however, she earned a college degree in mathematics and worked as a computer programmer. Now she's pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels. She has won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award, has been a finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA Award, and has served in varied positions for her local RWA chapter. A native of Kentucky, Kim lives with her husband and an assortment of animals in Middle Tennessee.

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Monday, November 19, 2018

Book Blitz & Giveaway - DARK ARTS AND A DAIQUIRI by Annette Marie


Dark Arts and a Daiquiri
Annette Marie
(The Guild Codex: Spellbound, #2)
Publication date: November 16th 2018
Genres: New Adult, Urban Fantasy
When I found myself facing down the scariest black-magic felon in the city, practically daring him to abduct me, I had to wonder exactly how I ended up here.
It all started when I accidentally landed a job as a bartender—but not at a bar. At aguild, populated by mages, sorcerers, alchemists, witches, and psychics. Good thing this lame-o human is adaptable, right?
Then my favorite guild members—three sexy, powerful, and intermittently charming mages—asked for my help. Did they want access to my encyclopedic knowledge of cocktails? Oh no. They wanted to wrap me up in a pretty ribbon and plunk me in the crosshairs of a murderous rogue to lure him out of hiding.
So that’s what we did. And that’s why I’m here. About to be kidnapped. Oh, and our grand plan for safely capturing said murderous rogue? Yeah, that completely fell apart about two minutes ago.
Why did I agree to this again?

Note: The three mages are definitely sexy, but this series isn’t a reverse harem. It’s 100% fun, sassy, fast-paced urban fantasy.
Tori has no problem getting herself into trouble in every book in the Guild Codex series, but each one is a complete adventure—no cliffhanger endings.

THE GUILD CODEX: SPELLBOUND
Three Mages and a Margarita (#1)
Dark Arts and a Daiquiri (#2)
Two Witches and a Whiskey (#3)
EXCERPT:
“This is really nice,” I gushed, unconcerned by the apartment’s lackluster finishes. Beggars couldn’t be choosers, and having spent the last ten months sleeping on my brother’s sofa, I was ready to overlook anything less than holes in the walls.
Which, unfortunately, had been included in all the apartments we’d viewed so far, along with complimentary mold, cockroaches, and suspicious odors. That wasn’t including the batshit crazy landlords. Did normal people not dabble in real estate investment, or did all the well-adjusted landlords have tenants already?
“It’s clean,” Sin observed. “Running water. Heat. Wait, does it have heat? It’s cold in here.”
“Well, it is a basement.” I flapped my printout. “It says all utilities are included in the rent. How sweet is that?”
Sin wrinkled her nose suspiciously. “It’s too cheap. There’s got to be something wrong with it.”
“Maybe there’s a hobo living in the crawlspace.” I pointed at a half-height door tucked in a corner of the living room. “That’s a crawlspace, right?”
We crossed the room and I crouched at the door, Sin leaning over my shoulder. I pulled it open. Inside was nothing but impenetrable darkness.
“Use your phone’s flashlight,” Sin suggested. “There must be a light switch or—”
Chill air whispered over my skin and all the hair on my body stood on end—then arctic wind blasted me in the face.
I recoiled, crashing into Sin’s legs. She landed on her ass as the wind howled out of the crawlspace, whipping dust through the room. My printouts went flying and we scrambled backward on our butts with the papers spiraling toward the ceiling.
The darkness in the crawlspace leaked out from the doorway and pooled on the floor like ink. Shadows writhed and something pale materialized in the threshold—a skeletal woman on her hands and knees, toothless mouth gaping, empty eye sockets dribbling black blood.
I took one look at the moaning specter and screamed like the sissy girl that I am.
Sin let out her own terrified shriek as the ghostly woman dragged herself out of the crawlspace, her long hair trailing on the floor. She stretched a hand toward us, blackened fingers curled like claws, and icy gusts lashed at our faces. Still screaming, Sin grabbed my arm, her fingernails digging into my skin. Sharp pain cut through my panic.
I jammed my hand into my pocket and whipped out my trump card—yes, a literal card.
My trusty Queen of Spades was more than it appeared: a sorcerer’s artifact embedded with a spell that reflected magic. Was there any magic here to rebound? I had no idea. Would it work on a ghost? Also no idea. I wasn’t a sorcerer. I was a crime-of-convenience thief and I had only the vaguest notion how to use the card.
But it was the lone magical defense I had, so I thrust it at the phantom and shouted, “Ori repercutio!”
The air rippled and the gale-force wind reversed direction. It slammed into the woman, flinging her back into the crawlspace. Her head hit the door frame with a whack.
“Ow!” she squeaked.
Sin’s scream cut off. In unison, we launched to our feet. We weren’t screaming anymore, but I for one was even more freaked out. The woman was too solid to be a ghost, but holy freaking shit, that body did not belong to a living being—papery skin clinging to bones, empty sockets for eyes, stringy hair down to her knees.
The ghost woman sprang up, raising her hands like claws. “Begone from this place,” she moaned. “Begooooone … or else!”
I tilted my head toward Sin, not daring to take my eyes off the not-a-ghost. “Hey, Sin. Is that … a vampire?”
“No.” She pulled a handful of vials with colorful liquid contents out of her purse. “Not even close.”
Selecting a bottle, she dropped the others back into her bag and unscrewed the top. A hideous smell like burnt iron singed my nose.
“No!” the woman shrieked—except she didn’t sound like a woman anymore. Her voice was two octaves higher and painfully nasal. “Don’t!”
Sin held out the bottle threateningly. “Show us your real form or I’ll drench you!”
“Noooo! Go away!” The woman stomped her foot. “Stupid humans! This is my house!”
Raising her hand higher, Sin started to tip the bottle.
“Uuuuugh. Fine.” The woman threw her hands up—and her body melted. It lost solidity and shrank, then reformed into something new.
The creature was dark green with skin the waxy texture of pine needles. Even with twigs sprouting off its large head in place of hair, it barely reached my waist, and a mixture of spruce branches and pine cones hid its torso. Thin arms and legs stuck out of the twiggy mess, its hands and feet comically oversized.
Its eyes, narrowed angrily, dominated its face, the crystalline green irises unnaturally bright and entirely lacking pupils—just giant green orbs.
The creature pointed an accusing finger at us. “This is my house! Leave or I’ll turn you into bean sprouts!”
I cleared my throat. “Okay, not a vampire,” I said to Sin. “What is it?” “This,” Sin replied grimly, “is a faery.”


Author Bio:
Annette Marie is the author of Amazon best-selling YA urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, its prequel trilogy Spell Weaver, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter. Her first love is fantasy, but fast-paced adventures and tantalizing forbidden romances are her guilty pleasures. She lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it's not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minion of darkness—sorry, cat—Caesar. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in one art project or another while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

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Sunday, November 18, 2018

RAMBLINGS & RECIPES - The Ghosts of Thanksgivings Past

Thanksgiving is a time for families to gather together and to be thankful for our many blessings.  It is also a time for crowded airports, family quarrels, undercooked or overcooked turkeys and football game interuptions.  And who can remember being forced to sit at the "children's table" until you were well into your 20's?

Growing up, my family faced any problem with a grain of salt, followed by a shot of tequilla and a lick of lime. No worries. If the turkey burned, someone would inevitably just shrug their shoulders and say "At least salmonella won't be a concern" or "The less turkey Grandpa eats, the less likely he will be to walk around with his pants unbuttoned".  

There was always plenty of food.  We could have fed the entire neighborhood by the amount of food my mom would prepare.  The only taboo in our Thanksgiving routine was the timing. The food must be served before or after football. Do not try to squeeze it in during halftime. 

As much as my father and two brothers loved food, they loved football more.

When I was about six or seven years old, my dad brought home a live turkey a few weeks before Thanksgiving. Apparently, his plan was that we were going to feed it to fatten it up. 

We kept it in the backyard with a long string attached to the clothes line so that it could run freely and not get away. 

Being a young child, I didn't understand what was going to happen to this illustrious bird. 

I thought it was a pet. 

I named it Harvey. 

I loved Harvey. 

When I finally realized the fate of my turkey, well... let's just say that I did not eat dinner that year. 



ROAST TURKEY WITH OYSTER STUFFING

Ingredients:
*  1 large turkey, thawed
*  2 loaves stale bread
*  4 stalks celery, chopped
*  1 medium onion, chopped
*  1 stick of butter
*  4 cans of oysters
*  Bell's Seasoning
*  Parsley, chopped
*  Salt & Pepper

Directions:
Gently remove the crust from each slice of bread. In a large bowl, tear the bread into small pieces being careful not to crush the bread.  Add approximately 2 tablespoons Bell's Seasoning, salt & pepper to taste.

In a skillet, saute' celery and onion in butter until soft and slightly transparent (not browned).  Drain oysters but save the juice.  Slightly saute' the oysters and add all of this (except oyster juice) to the bread.  Toss gently and add enough juice until stuffing is the right consistency.  Stuff into turkey which has been washed and patted dry.  Baste with additional butter and roast according to directions.


Saturday, November 17, 2018

Book Blitz & Giveaway - FALSE MEMORY by Meli Raine


False Memory
Meli Raine
(False Memory, #1)
Publication date: November 15th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance, Suspense
It all started with the bereavement flowers with my name on them.
Not the best way to wake up, right? I work in a flower shop. I know a funeral arrangement when I see one.
I know a killer when I see one, too. And one is standing in my hospital room right now, straight behind the man who saved my life.
I can’t tell anyone the truth, because that’s the fastest way to really die. So I do the next best thing. I “lose” my memory.
I fake my amnesia.
Pretending not to remember a brutal attempted murder has its perks. The killer is backing down, spending less time around me, loosening the noose.
The less I claim to recall, the more my rescuer, Duff, works to help me “remember.” I hate lying to him.
But he doesn’t understand that my memory is dangerous. To me. And to him.
Fooling everyone isn’t easy. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Except it’s starting to look like I’ve been fooling myself.
In more ways than one.
Read Book 1 in the newest series from USA Today bestselling author Meli Raine.


Author Bio:
Meli Raine writes romantic suspense with hot bikers, intense undercover DEA agents, bad boys turned good, and Special Ops heroes — and the women who love them. Meli rode her first motorcycle when she was five years old, but she played in the ocean long before that. She lives in New England with her family.

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Thursday, November 15, 2018

New Release Book Review - FLAMES OF REDEMPTION (Book 5 of The Omni Towers Series) by Jamie A. Waters


Title: Flames of Redemption (Book 5 of The Omni Towers Series)
Author: Jamie A. Waters
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Post-Apocalyptic 
Release Date: November 15, 2018

About the Book:
Beware the games that can leave you burned…
Valentina has spent her life working as an elite agent for the Coalition. After a rescue effort goes horribly wrong, she's taken to the Omni Towers where she finds herself embroiled in a masterful game of chess and she's the hunted queen.
With the Coalition poised on the brink of civil war and ready to rescind their alliance with The Omni Towers, Valentina must quickly get to the bottom of who is behind the sinister plot targeting their leadership.
When shipments of weapons go missing and buried secrets emerge, Valentina is forced into facing her past and playing the deadliest game of her life. Unfortunately, the stakes of this gamble are higher than anyone could have anticipated and not even a love forged in fire may be enough to save their people from destruction.

Buy Links: Amazon 
Currently Free on Kindle Unlimited
My Review:

First of all, let me say that I absolutely love this cover. This is Book 5 in the Omni Towers Series and I would strongly suggest that you start with Book 1 and work your way up through each and every book in this series. You will be so happy that you did. Best series I have read in a very long time! May be the best series EVER! I love these characters, the action, the twists and the romance.

FLAMES OF REDEMPTION focuses on Valentina and a few other members of the Coalition, but it also takes you back to the Towers. I must say that Valentina and her love life are a dynamic couple (I won't say who it is just in case you haven't read this far in the series yet because I hate to give away spoilers). Great story, lots of action, and a surprise discovery that will make you choke on your morning bagel. Wow!  I did not expect that!  

The Omni Towers Series would make a fabulous TV series. How about it, Netflix? Are you listening?

My Rating:

About the Author:
Jamie A. Waters is an award-winning, urban fantasy, science-fiction, and paranormal romance writer. Her first novel was a winner of the Readers' Favorite Award in Science-Fiction Romance and the CIPA EVVY Award in Science-Fiction. 

Jamie currently resides in Florida with two neurotic dogs who enjoy stealing socks. When she's not pursuing her passion of writing, she's usually trying to learn new and interesting random things (like how to pick locks or use the self-cleaning feature of the oven without setting off the fire alarm). In her downtime, she enjoys reading on her Kindle, playing computer games, painting, or acting as a referee between the dragons and fairies currently at war inside her closet. 

You can learn more by visiting: 

Website:  www.jamieawaters.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/booksbyjamiewaters/

 

The Novel Lady Published @ 2014 by Ipietoon