Monday, February 28, 2022

BOOK BLITZ: Fire of the Forebears by L.A. Buck #GIVEAWAY

Fire of the Forebears
L.A. Buck
(Heritor’s Helm, #1)
Publication date: February 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

Pitted against one another, with the people and country they love in jeopardy, the daughter of a deserter and the son of the king have a chance to fulfill their forebears’ legacy—or destroy it entirely.

Twisted monsters called saja lurk in the shadows of the mountains. Rumors say the Fidelis, human wielders of an ancient elemental magic, again walk the plains. Not all in Avaron believe, and not all welcome the return of legend.

Kura’s a skeptic. But, she’ll cross and befriend centaurs, talking animals, and worse to save her family after the rebellion mistakes her for the land’s prophesied savior. And, while he’d rather negotiate with rebels than fight them, Triston can’t ignore prophecy. That was the sham his father used to steal the crown in the first place.

Over a century ago, their ancestors sailed the oceans in search of peace and died as heroes fighting for it. But heroes—and villains—aren’t always what they seem to be.

Inspired by Brandon Sanderson’s grounded characters and JRR Tolkien’s sense of wonder, Fire of the Forebears is a fantasy for fans who think a dual perspective adventure about the fate of one nation might still be pretty epic.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

EXCERPT:

The woman smiled. She almost seemed friendly; she was the only one in this forsaken place to understand it. Pain shot through Kura’s arm and she cried out, grasping her saja wound. Her own pulse beat beneath her hand.

“The more you resist, the more it will hurt.”

Kura locked eyes with the woman, her voice a whispered breath. “What?”

The woman’s blood-red lips twisted into a wide grin. “Have they really taught you nothing? There was a time when men quaked in fear at the sight of me.”

Kura grit her teeth against the pain. “Am I dead?”

“Oh no, pet, you are very much alive.” The woman lifted a slender hand, and the campfire fell to mere coals; the searing heat leapt into Kura’s veins. She screamed.

“Give me the sword, girl.” The woman seemed so calm, but her simple command carried the force of a storm.

Kura shook her head, limbs trembling.

“The sword!” the woman repeated, flinging up her hand.

Fire surged through Kura’s veins, fracturing her natural wall of stubbornness, and she clamped down on another scream. What did she care about the sword?

The pain vanished. Kura fell onto her hands and knees in the dirt, coughing as she drew in ragged breaths. A bird called overhead.

Just a bird? Of all things? She almost laughed.

The fog swirling among the spires receded to reveal a scraggly dead tree a short distance away, with a bird perched on the top branch. It was the size and color of a raven, except for the spots of white—like stars in a dark sky—scattered across its chest. The bird gave another call, the sound a harsh chatter, and flapped its wings to reveal the golden feathers on its underside. It was a flicker.

The woman hissed. “Out of so many, you come for her?”

Kura struggled to her knees, but her limbs didn’t support her own weight. The woman turned back to her, brushing aside her displeasure with a grin. “Go on. Fight.”

Kura tried to stand, but her feet slid on the dry dirt.

“Fight with all the strength you have.”

Kura fell back, chest heaving for air. The woman held a staff, a long wooden pole that held a single-edged blade—one straight and the other curved—at each end.

“That way my victory will be all the more sweet.”

With a shout, Kura ripped her sword from its scabbard and met the woman’s advance. That rusted blade clashed with the sharpened staff, the impact reverberating through the stone spires as a flash of white sparks lit up the darkness. For just that moment the woman’s face was illuminated, and for just that moment her smile faltered.


Author Bio:

A goat farmer, engineering graduate, first degree black belt, and medical student, the one thing Lauren Buck always knew she wanted to be was an author. The first stories she ever wrote, as a grade-schooler, were about super heroes. But, raised on a steady diet of Lewis, Tolkien, and Sanderson, it was only a matter of time before she set her sights on epic fantasy.

When not writing, working, or studying, she enjoys drawing, playing the guitar, traveling, as well as outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and kayaking. Sometimes you can find her hanging out on Twitter, probably with a German shepherd or two sleeping at her side.

According to Myers-Briggs Lauren is an INTJ, and country roads will always take her home to wild and wonderful West Virginia.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bookbub


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B@@K REVEAL: The Magi Manifesto by Kale Lawrence

The Magi Manifesto
Kale Lawrence
(The Magi Menagerie, #2)
Publication date: December 13th 2022
Genres: Fantasy, Historical, New Adult, Young Adult

After the true power of the Tablet of Destinies is revealed, Ezra grapples with the horrors of the night that changed everything. Haunted by the monster who claimed his father’s life, Ezra is determined to see his promise through and become a Magus. But when the Third Order of the Magi have him arrested for crimes he has yet to commit, Ezra is willing to do whatever it takes to prove himself, even if it means going after the very force that terrorises his dreams.

But there’s more at stake than the Magi realise and major risks must be taken to settle the score. Desperate to stop the Legerdemain Brotherhood from claiming infinite power, Jonas must lead a team into the heart of enemy territory and dismantle the Brotherhood from the inside. Can Ezra and Jonas successfully stop the Legerdemain from ushering in a new era of terror? Or will yet another unlikely foe rise from the deep?

Add to Goodreads


Author Bio:

Since the early age of 6, Kale Lawrence knew she either wanted to be an astronaut or an author. Obviously, the astronaut gig didn’t work out, so instead, Kale turned to fantastic fictional worlds. When Kale is not writing creatively, she works as a Marketing Manager at a pet product company, and pretends she’s an Olympic swimmer at the gym. She has also served as a board member for the South Dakota Writes organization.

In addition to books, Kale has lent her writing prowess to television, and her writing has been featured on nationwide PBS television programming, NBC newscasts, ABC newscasts, and the Travel Channel.

Kale currently lives in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with her feisty tortoiseshell calico cat, Emma Bug and sassy Siamese, Seattle Bean.

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Friday, February 25, 2022

NEW RELEASE! Drunken Revelry by Skye Turner

It’s Release Day!!
πŸ’œπŸ’šπŸ’›⚜️πŸ‘‘
Drunk-en Revelry
A Love Drunk Short Story
By Skye Turner

What readers are saying:

“So funny and H.O.T!”

“I loved Drunk Cupid. But Drunken Revelry was even BETTER! Great story. Hilarious. And full of steam!”

"Enough to make me stop wishing to go to New Orleans just for beignets - now I want to rent an RV and set up in a parking lot for Mardi Gras!"

“This was the perfect little story! Jake and Jenna were so relatable and funny. That chemistry has me wanting to partake in some drunken revelry of my own! Great job!”

Blurb:

Mardi Gras in Louisiana is the time to “Laissez les bon temps rouler” also known as “Let the good times roll.”

Jake heads to his company’s parade spot with the sole intention of drinking too much and forgetting about the sexy temporary office secretary who occupies far too much of his mind.

Jenna accepts her short-term boss’s invitation to join the company for a day of fun and revelry.

As the parades roll, the drinks flow, and the good times begin, Jake and Jenna find themselves unable to deny the attraction that's been brewing between them.

Will beads and baubles be the only things caught in their day of drunken revelry?

*Drunken Revelry is a Steamy Adult Romance and the second book in the BRAND NEW Love Drunk Spicy Romantic Comedy Short Story Series. All books are New Adult to Adult Romance and are between 8K-10K words.

Get your copy HERE:

Everywhere Else➡️ https://books2read.com/u/4DKa6g

You can also catch up with Drunk Cupid, the first Love Drunk Short Story here:

Amazon➡️ https://amzn.to/3BapBxz

Everywhere else➡️ https://books2read.com/u/31R9xa

Please follow me on ALL of my Social Media! 

Facebook➡️ Facebook.com/SkyeTurnerOfficialPage

Instagram➡️ Instagram.com/@theskyeturner 

TikTok➡️ TikTok.com/@theskyeturner

My Facebook Reader Group➡️ Skye Turner/ Sloane Nicole’s Sirens

BOOK BLITZ: Lake Taimana by Stephanie Ruth #GIVEAWAY

Lake Taimana
Stephanie Ruth
(Otago Waters, #3)
Publication date: February 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Love a slow-burn, second chance romance, with tight-knit families and smouldering secrets?

Don’t we all!

Winner of both the Daphne Clair DeJong First Kiss and RWNZ Great Beginnings competition, LAKE TAIMANA (Lake Diamond) is a contemporary love story set in the stunning Lakes District in southern New Zealand.

The third novel by emerging Kiwi romance writer, Stephanie Ruth, LAKE TAIMANA can be read as a standalone, or in conjunction with two other linked love stories in the OTAGO WATERS series.

*****

What does it take to shift deep-seated betrayal?

Adele Fergus switched back to her maiden name with plans to never look back—never think about her naΓ―ve, short-lived marriage to James Montague. But that was before he turned up on her Wanaka doorstep with her missing diamonds, a crazy back-story, and persistent requests for visitation with his ex-stepdaughter.

Adele’s hell-bent on keeping James at arms-length, but it’s not easy with old attractions still running hot. What’s more, she’s beginning to suspect she may have left him on false information.

Divorce was never in James’ game-plan, so when his ex-wife’s jewellery comes to light, he’s drawn back to her—welcome or not—and he isn’t leaving until he has all the answers.

The more the exes re-learn to trust each other, the more they come to realise someone was intent on dragging them apart from the very beginning. Someone close.

Is it worth risking everything to start again?

*****

Authors note: Though this story ends with an HEA, it also includes references to a historical miscarriage, depression, and suicide. Please read at your own discretion.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

Adele walloped James a few times between the shoulder blades, concerned. He was hunched forward in the armchair, still coughing as if his life depended on it.

“Steady on,” James choked the words out amidst bouts of hacking. “I might need my spine later in the week.”

“You’re alright now?” She stopped hitting and rubbed the spot with her palm instead, up and down. Turning back to the sofa, she refocused on what she’d been thinking before she’d been rudely interrupted. “I’m imagining red through to yellow. Sunshine colours, you know? Or maybe cooler tones—green and leafy. Yes! Tropical. Fiji-style would look great in here.”

“Adele?”

“Mmm?”

“Stop.”

“Stop what?” She turned to James in surprise, and realised she still had her hand on him, stroking the contours of his shoulders and back. Gently up, then massaging down in that valley between his blades that alluded to the power of his back; the strength and breadth of it. “Oh!” She withdrew immediately, red-faced and flustered. “Shit! Sorry.”

It’d felt so natural, so normal. For a moment she’d totally forgotten…

James leaned back against the cushions and slid his hands behind his head, lacing his fingers there as he closed his eyes. “Let’s get something straight.”

“Um, okay.”

“You don’t want me to touch you, right?”

Was that right? Why was she no longer sure if that was right?

She should be positive. Right?

“Right. Yes.” Adele bit down on her lower lip, staring at the tanned skin of James’ exposed neck, and marvelling at how the new beard petered out to give way to corded muscle. “I mean, I guess so.”


Author Bio:

Award winning New Zealand contemporary romance novelist and short story writer, Stephanie Ruth lives in the South Island, Te Waipounamu, with her husband, three children, and an ever expanding array of animals. If it doesn't have a happy ending in some form or other, Stephanie's not writing it.

 

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

 


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Thursday, February 24, 2022

B@@K REVEAL: Monster Inside by River Starr #PreORDER

Monster Inside
River Starr
(Shadow Pact, #1)
Publication date: April 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Sometimes the most enchanting monsters are the ones you can’t see, only feel…

I am a survivor. For the past ten years, I’ve been forced to give every part of me to sinister vampires in a feeding community. But when I touched an ancient book and recited a spell out of sheer desperation and zero arcane knowledge, a dark entity came to me. Rescued me. Mrak helped me escape.

I have no idea what I’ve gotten myself into. But Mrak has been at my side for the last three months—well, inside me, anchored to my existence and lovingly tender with his ethereal touches. It’s not quite possession, not quite a haunting. But it’s real, it’s sexy as hell, and he’s mine. Or I’m his. Either way, we’re now in this life together.

Mrak is distracting, seductive, and powerful, but he’s also keeping a secret. One that’s now put me in immense danger despite his claims he’ll do anything to protect me. Because the cops have come calling. Bodies have turned up. And despite his reassurances, I’m starting to wonder if Mrak has a hidden agenda that he’s somehow kept secret from the inside.

My life might be in my monster’s debt. My body might be his for pleasure. But my future is mine no matter how much he wants and uses my body. I’m no longer the weak woman he saved from a vampire lord, and it’s time to take my body—and my life—back.

MONSTER INSIDE is the first of a M/F paranormal monster romance duology.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order


Author Bio:

River Starr writes books that help you escape, especially fantasy romance full of magic and supernaturals. Favorite things: coffee, wine, chocolate, and a heavy dose of books to chase away the dark... or invite delicious darkness in.

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BOOK BLITZ: Dead Ahead by Annie Anderson #GIVEAWAY

Dead Ahead
Annie Anderson
(Grave Talker, #5)
Publication date: February 22nd 2022
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy

Some secrets should stay buried.

After accidentally freeing a demon, ticking off the werewolf alpha, and possibly inciting a war, Darby Adler’s Warden job is in serious peril.

With the council up in arms and a literal god on her doorstep, Darby needs to figure her life out and pronto.

If she can’t, losing her job might be the least of her problems.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

I was going to punch a god right in the face.

Sure, he was the actual God of Torment. Okay, so he probably didn’t deserve it. But I would sock him right in the mouth…

Just as soon as I got the nerve.

“Now, that’s just rude,” Deimos muttered, straightening the tie of his impossibly crisp suit as he stared me down. “I came here to have a civil discussion,” he tutted, as if I were a naughty puppy that had just piddled on his rug, “and all you can think of is violence.”

Yep. Definitely going to punch a god in the face.

It was one thing to come here—after the absolute catastrophe of the last twenty-four hours, I could get that—but to imply he was here for anything other than to beg my forgiveness for what his son had done to me, well…

“A civil discussion? A civil discussion?” The laugh that came out of my mouth made me sound cracked even to my own ears. “Maybe the reason all I want to do is hit something is because your son wormed his way inside my skull,” I seethed, roughly tapping my temple as I stepped forward, “and killed two people with my hands. Maybe it’s because he didn’t exactly ask permission first before he wore me like a skin suit while he got himself free. Maybe it’s because I have been violated beyond measure after losing half my damn family. Really, the possibilities are endless as to why violence is on the menu.”

Another unhinged giggle popped free of my mouth which had Deimos shuffling backward a pace or two.

Or five.

“You freed my son—”

“I didn’t free shit,” I spat, following him down the steps and across the ribbon of pavement that bisected the front yard. “Did you miss the part where he wore me without consent? Add to that, Azrael locked me inside my own mind, so I couldn’t even shove your son out either. Oh, no. You aren’t pinning this shit on me.”

And if it was possible that I may have yelled that at a god while slowly stalking him across the grass, well then, so be it.

Author Bio:

Annie Anderson is a military wife and United States Air Force veteran. Originally from Dallas, Texas, she is a southern girl at heart, but has lived all over the US and abroad. As soon as the military stops moving her family around, she'll settle on a state, but for now she enjoys being a nomad with her husband, two daughters, an old man of a dog, and a young pup that makes life... interesting.

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Wednesday, February 23, 2022

#RachelReviews THE SENIOR AND THE SURFER by M. B. Feeney #Charity

The Senior and the Surfer by M. B. Feeney

Released November 01, 2021; 292 pages
BLURB:

A senseless attack brings clarity to Rare Breed’s Wes’ life…

Wes Archer is gay.
His friends and sister accept him without judgment and love him for having the strength to live his true life. The band and his friends have become an escape from the misery of living with a homophobic father, and he hates to think how things would be without them in his life.
When he meets Wyatt, a surfer, down at the beach, their relationship becomes another welcome distraction from life at home, and he finally sees a future away from his parents.
But just as Wes starts to grow in confidence, an unprovoked attack threatens to derail his courage and determination.
Can the band, his sister, and Wyatt show him that he can move beyond his past, and toward a happy and bright new future, where Rare Breed reach for the stars?

The third book in M. B. Feeney’s New Adult Rockstar Romance Series.


MY THOUGHTS

In The Senior and the Surfer, we return to the Rare Breed world created by M B Feeney. This time, for Wes’ story, the band’s drummer.

Right off the bat I must applaud Feeney. The Rare Breed world, set in Los Angeles, is one world, one story, and yet the author has been able to present us with three individual tales to date. As a reader, I’m not fond of recapping the same scene over and over. As an editor, I’ll pull my authors up on this. Feeney, however, has manipulated this series with style and grace. While these books all follow basically the same timeline, there are enough nuances and unique scenes to make each story stand alone as Feeney tackles various hard-hitting subjects of adolescence. And while each is an amazing read on its own, they deliver so much more of an impact when read all together.

My understanding is that The Senior and the Surfer was Feeney’s first full dive into the m/m world after tip-toeing around the subject in earlier books. Her handling of the subject matter was beautifully done, and I was easily won over by Wes and Wyatt’s budding relationship. I cheered their good times and lamented their hard times, falling in love with the idea of them.

I admittedly don’t usually give more than 4 stars on a review, but the Rare Breed series has been 5 star all the way for me. Each and every book has been an absolute delight to read. Thank you, Ms Feeney, and write on!

Get the whole series HERE!


SURPRISE! There will be a fourth installment to the Rare Breed series, The Sophomore and the Second Chance, and Feeney will be working on it to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Get all the details, cheer her on, and make a donation HERE










BOOK BLITZ: Cruel Knight by M.A. Lee #GIVEAWAY

Cruel Knight
M.A. Lee
(A Savannah Mafia Romance, #4)
Publication date: February 21st 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mafia, Romance

“I never believed in fairy tales…that was until I met a dark knight.”
Ryder grew up envious of the Antoni Mafia Family. Watching from the outside, he always dreamed that one day he could earn his ranks and approval in one of Savannah’s most notorious crime families. Finding himself in the Army as a sniper, he returns back to Savannah with plans to prove himself and finally become a made man in the Antoni Mafia Family.

Abbigal grew up as a Las Vegas princess. As the daughter of a wealthy casino owner, she has spent her entire life under the glamour and bright lights of big cities like Vegas and Savannah. After the death of her father, Abbigail inherits a casino in Savannah. Knowing the industry, she is prepared for this new role. However, the Savannah Mafia families want a piece of the casino and won’t go down without a fight. Abbigail is up for the fight of her life and now a cocky, suave, man has gained her attention.
Like a moth drawn to a flame, Ryder finds himself intrigued by the one woman who isn’t interested in him. Trying to navigate a way into the casino and the Antoni Mafia Family, Ryder never thought he would also being finding a way into Abbigails heart, too.
Find out what happens when Ryder, has to earn his way into the Antoni Mafia Family and the heart of a Las Vegas Princess.

Goodreads / Amazon

SNEAK PEEK:

“Are you stalking me? Let me remind you again, Ryder, that I am your boss. You should act professionally around me,” I spoke clearly.

Ryder chuckled as he ran a hand through his dark hair. “You keep reminding me that you are my boss. That you are in charge,” he said, closing the space between us. He now stood in front of me again, towering over me. “I think you get off on being in charge. You love the power; it turns you on,” he said slowly.

I drank in his words. Too shocked to speak, my mouth fell open as I glared back at this man.


Author Bio:

M.A. Lee is the persona of a wife and mother. Her obsession with coffee and book boyfriends drives her to create steamy romance novels.

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BOOK BLITZ: Love on the Line 2 by Kirsten Fullmer #GIVEAWAY

Love on the Line 2
Kirsten Fullmer
(Women at Work, #2)
Publication date: February 4th 2022
Genres: Coming of Age, New Adult, Romance, Young Adult

In part two of this extraordinary love story set in the hot, humid, summer of the wide-open mid-west, egos and emotions collide. Andy and Rooster find their romance in peril when job-related stress, injuries, and extraordinary weather conditions interfere with their relationship, both at work and at home.

Andrea has come to understand working outdoors in inhospitable climates and is thriving in her role as assistant bending engineer. She and Rooster have moved in together and are starting a new job. Although exhausted, Andy is glad to be working with Grandpa Buck again, even though it limits her time with Rooster. She’s missed the other hands too, and she is very curious about the new coating foreman; an intelligent, confident, and independent young woman. So is her friend, Nick. Andy also finds herself befriending a neighbor at the RV park, the wife of a welder on the line. Seeing a girl her age as a mother has Andy wondering about her own future. Could she manage to pipeline and be wife and mother too?

As always, pipeline construction is interrupted by delays, fraught with fatigue, and contingent on the weather. Caught up in a world of egos, Andrea and Rooster struggle to maintain their workload while finding time for each other after hours. When a serious on-the-job accident tips the scale of leadership, Andy and Rooster are thrown into conflicting positions. If stress at work, little time for love, and their reputations in danger wasn’t enough, Andy’s parents show up to complicate things further. Rooster is determined to prove himself capable of his new position, and Andrea isn’t about to let Buck down; will their fledgling romance pay the price? The couple has their horns locked in battle and they can’t let go, but they need each other, especially now. Both will have to make sacrifices and take a chance on ruining their credibility in order to stay together.

Goodreads / Amazon


BOOK TRAILER:

EXCERPT:

Rooster forked a pork chop onto his plate and dug in, cutting off a big bite. He popped it in his mouth and watched Andy as he chewed.

She tried not to squirm, but he could see her discomfort. One of his brows quirked up.

Andy dished a helping of salad onto her plate, careful not to look up at him.

He cut another bite off his chop. Silence filled the room, tense and palpable, like the room was too small. Reaching for his glass, he caught her sneaking a peak at him.

After several gulps of water, he settled his glass back on the table, took his fork in one hand and his knife in the other, and waited. She was only demure when she knew she was in the wrong.

When she realized he wasn’t eating, her eyes met his. “What’s wrong?” she asked innocently. “Is the pork okay?”

“Why do you want to go to some gas station on the only night we don’t have to go to sleep at eight o-clock? You usually want to…” He intentionally let the sentence drop and waggled his eyebrows to make her blush. She was so cute when she was timid.

“We won’t need to stay late,” she backpedaled, “I was talking to Nick about it and—”

“Oh, here we go,” he interrupted. “This is about Nick isn’t it?”

She put her fork on the table. “What’s your problem with Nick?”

He shook his head. “You told him you’d invite that new coating girl, didn’t you?” He wasn’t asking, it was a statement.

Andy’s chin came up. “She happens to be the coating foreman.”

“Whatever,” he snorted, and went back to cutting his meat.

Andy grinned wickedly. “She could demand that you all address her as foreperson, you know.”

Rooster snorted at her dilutional comment.

Andy pursed her lips, knowing full well that the pipeline was still in the 1950s when it came to women’s rights. But she adjusted her train of thought and continued. “Why do you think this has anything to do with me talking to Nick?”

His chewing stopped and he gave her an oh please, look.

She cleared her throat and looked away, poking a bite of salad onto her fork. “Okay, her name may have come up.”

Rooster took another long drink of water.

“Would it kill us to be social?” Andy retorted. “We never go anywhere but work.”

“We work eighty hours a week!”

“That’s beside the point,” she huffed, sticking the forkful of salad in her mouth.

“Is it?”

She chewed and swallowed. “You just don’t want to bother,” she said with a flounce.

“This is overcooked,” he muttered, sawing away at his pork chop. It was dry and chewy, he’d done a poor job of it.

Dinner continued in silence with both parties casting glances at the other, but neither one spoke. When they finished eating, they stood and carried their dishes to the sink. Rooster ran hot, soapy water as Andy scraped their scraps into the trash and returned to the table for the rest of the dishes.

Silence reigned, leaving only the sound of plates clinking and water running as Rooster washed and rinsed the dishes, and Andy dried. When the dishes were washed, he drained the water and watched as Andy put the last plate in the specially designed drawer. When she turned back to him, he took up the end of her dishtowel, pulling her to him. His hands circled her waist. “If you’d like me to take you out Saturday night, just say so.”

Andy didn’t meet his eye.

But Rooster knew her well, and still very much enjoyed her attitudes. He tilted her head up with an index finger under her chin. “You’re something else, you know that?”

Losing all track of thought, Andy fell under his spell. Her pupils dilated and her lips parted. She didn’t need to say anything, he knew he had her.

Leaning down, he teased kisses along her jaw, causing a moan to slip from her lips. Her arms came up to circle his neck and his kisses wandered to her cheek, then her mouth.

Eagerly, she kissed him back, deepening both the kiss and his desire. He scooped her up and carried her toward the bedroom.

Andy leaned into his shoulder, filled with anticipation. She nibbled at his neck, ran her fingers through his hair, and a dreamy smile settled over her face.

He placed her on the bed, certain that somewhere in that woman’s brain of hers, she was already wondering what she’d wear on their Saturday night date to the gas station.

Author Bio:

Kirsten is a dreamer with an eye for art and design. She worked in the engineering field, taught college, and consulted free lance. Due to health problems, she retired in 2012 to travel with her husband. They live and work full time in a 40' travel trailer with their little dog Bingo. Besides writing romance novels, she enjoys selling art on Etsy and spoiling their three grandchildren.

As a writer, Kirsten's goal is to create strong female characters who face challenging, painful, and sometimes comical situations. She believes that the best way to deal with struggle, is through friendship and women helping women. She knows good stories are based on interesting and relatable characters.

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Tuesday, February 22, 2022

BOOK BLITZ: Fall Guy by Felice Stevens #GIVEAWAY

Fall Guy
Felice Stevens
Publication date: February 18th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

I hired him to protect my body, but who will protect my heart?

He’s a thief, a convicted felon.
A cocky guy with tattoos and a smirk for days.
He needs a bodyguard and I need a job, so here we are.
And the more time I spend with Ronan Michaels, the more I realize maybe he isn’t the bad guy after all.
But why do I feel like he’s hiding something or protecting someone?
Or both?

My Angel Gabriel has a devil on his shoulder.
He’s not a sinner—but certainly no saint.
He’s been lied to and abandoned. Hurt by people who should love him no matter what.
Gabriel’s discovered my secrets, yet the more I push him away, the closer he stands by my side.
And when his past crumbles, leaving him searching for answers, I’m right there for him, holding his hand.
Holding him up.
Because love is catching someone when they fall.
And never letting go.
From Lambda Literary Award-winning author Felice Stevens comes an irresistible bodyguard romance about two men busy fighting the demons of their past—and their attraction to each other.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

With a six-pack in hand, I turned the corner and came upon that small group of protesters Isaac and I had seen the other night; only this time, they had a man surrounded. Though he was tall and muscular, his eyes were wild with fear, his face panic-stricken. My instincts kicked in, and I ran toward the mob.

“We want all our money! We want justice!” The swell of voices grew louder as I drew closer, and I heard his voice rise above the crowd.

“Please, let me go.”

Suddenly he was knocked to the pavement, and glass shattered at my feet. I ducked my head to the side to prevent the shards from getting in my eyes. The group scattered and grew quiet, and then people started running.

“What the fuck are you people doing?” I called out to the crowd, kneeling at his side. “Are you all right?”

I gazed into the deep blue eyes of a man with jet-black hair and dark stubble that shadowed a hard jaw and high cheekbones. And…damn. He was gorgeous.

“I-I think so.” His slightly raspy voice washed over me like a caress. I blinked and noticed the blood trickling down the side of his scalp.

“You’re bleeding. Is this your building? Do you want me to help you inside?”

At the mention of blood, he grew even paler and closed his eyes. “Uh…give me a sec. I’ve always hated the sight of blood.”

He put his head between his knees, and I stayed with him on the ground until he glanced up at me, a little smile tipping the corner of his mouth. It made his stunning face even more attractive, highlighting dimples along with a tiny scar running into the top of his lip. It did nothing to mar the perfection of his face.

“Who are you? Aside from my guardian angel.”

I grinned. “I’m no angel, although my name is Gabriel. I was taking a walk and saw the commotion. Looked like you needed help.”

“Well, Angel Gabriel, should I break the cardinal rule of a New Yorker and trust a stranger?”

“You’re Ronan Michaels, so I guess we’re not really strangers.” Hell, was I flirting with him? I couldn’t help it. Something about this man made me reckless.

He didn’t reciprocate, his smile fading at my words, and he brushed me off. “I’m fine.” Without another word, he rose to his feet and left me crouching on the pavement with my beer, feeling like a fool.

Author Bio:

Felice Stevens has always been a romantic at heart. She believes that while life is tough, there is always a happy ending around the corner. Her characters have to work for it, because just like life in NYC, nothing comes easy and that includes love.

Felice is the 2020 Lambda Literary Award winning author in best Gay Romance. She lives in New York City and has way too much black in her wardrobe. If she's not writing, you'll probably find her watching reality TV or procrastinating on FB in her reader group, Felice's Breakfast Club.

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Monday, February 21, 2022

BOOK BLITZ: Daddy's Kitten by Wanda Violet O. #GIVEAWAY

Daddy’s Kitten
Wanda Violet O.
(Billionaire Daddy Doms, #1)
Publication date: February 18th 2022
Genres: Erotica, Romance

Warning: This is a Razor’s Edge Daddy Dom BDSM Erotica short story. Expect limited plot and character development, and lots of heat. If you’re looking for a lengthy plot driven erotic romance, this is not it!

Life doesn’t always happen as we expect. When I found myself in the hands of a sexy Daddy Dom in the form of a powerful billionaire, I wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was more pleasure and satisfaction than I’d ever known. But my Daddy pushes me. Sometimes further than I ever thought I could go. How I respond is up to me. But the last thing I want is to disappoint the man who’s come to mean everything to me.

Goodreads / Amazon

EXCERPT:

“It’s OK, princess. I just need you to understand what I expect from you. You’re fine. Trust me to protect you.” He placed a soft kiss on my lips. “This is about my pleasure and what I want, but I’ll never abuse you, and I promise I’ll always give you pleasure. All you have to do is be what I tell you to be.”

I nodded and whispered, “Yes, Daddy.”

Daddy smiled, then positioned the pillow under the table and between his spread legs. “If you need my attention you are to place your head in my lap. While you’re my pet, your name is Kitten. You will still call me Daddy, do you understand, Kitten?” I was sure he repeated my name to emphasize it for me.

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Take your place, Kitten.”

I did, curling up on the plush red pillow. It was large and velvet soft. Had I been an actual kitten I would have purred. I accidentally let out a soft moan of pleasure as I laid my head down. I was against Daddy’s calf, but he didn’t move. I took it as a sign he didn’t mind my touch.

With me out of the way, the meeting continued. I didn’t pay attention to anything but Daddy’s voice. It was gravelly but pleasing. I loved to listen to him, especially when he praised me. His voice sent shivers through me. Now, with my hot bottom and knowing how that voice sounded when he got stern, that voice made my pussy clench. I wondered what it would be like to hear him scold me for being naughty. What it would sound like if he commanded me to come for him. I squeezed my legs together to get friction on my clit at the thought. I rolled my hips slightly, needing to have Daddy’s hands on me.

“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Daddy said.

Uh oh. His voice sounded irritated. Why?

“You’ll have to forgive me. My pet is new and is still not sure how to behave.”

“Better to correct naughtiness as it happens,” Victor said. “Otherwise pets become confused.”

Daddy rolled his chair back and gave me a hard look. “Up, Kitten,” he said softly. I hesitated, but one look from him had me scrambling to my feet. He held my arm and turned me around to face the group at the table again, pulling my skirt up and tucking the hem into the waistband. He pressed me forward so I was bent over the table. My breath hitched, then I started to hyperventilate. “What were your instructions when I told you to sit, Kitten?”

I thought for a moment, and it cost me. Daddy smacked my ass. Hard. I yelped, but it definitely jogged my memory.

“I wasn’t supposed to move once I settled,” I said in a rush. “I was to place my head in your lap if I needed something.”

“And what were you doing, Kitten?”

“I moved,” I said softly.

“You were squirming,” Daddy corrected.

I hung my head. “I was squirming, Daddy.”

“Now. Before I give you your punishment, I want to know why you were squirming not fifteen minutes after you settled in.” He rubbed my back from my neck to the base of my spine just above the curve of my ass.

I knew better than to hesitate. Daddy commanded instant obedience. Also, if I were honest, I was afraid I’d think up a lie if I thought about it too hard. If I did that, Daddy might get really angry. “I was listening to your voice, and I liked it, Daddy.”

“I see. Explain why you liked it, Kitten.”

I sighed, not wanting to tell him but knowing I had to. “I wanted to hear you telling me I was a good girl.”

“And?”

Could he read my mind? “And I wanted you to tell me to come.” This last sentence was nearly a whisper. I could only hope the other men couldn’t hear me.

“I see,” Daddy said again. He moved his rubbing down to my ass. In praise? “Anything else, Kitten?”

“I wondered what you’d sound like scolding me, but I found that out now,” I said, cheekily. More than one man chuckled. I thought Daddy did too, but when I looked over my shoulder at him, he wasn’t smiling.

“The sass is more than it should be, but I’ll ignore it this time. Since you told me the truth, I’m only giving you ten spanks. You will count them, Kitten.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

Author Bio:

Welcome to Wanda Violet O.’s Monster World, where you’ll find a variety of sexy monsters ready to drink their fill of their human pets. Want to know more about Wanda’s monster erotica? Come take a look for yourself!

Wanda Violet O.’s Monstrous Bedtime Stories

 

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Sunday, February 20, 2022

BOOK BLITZ: Sabrina and the Lady by Sonya Lawson #GIVEAWAY

Sabrina and the Lady
Sonya Lawson
(The Comus Duology, #1)
Publication date: February 25th 2022
Genres: Adult, Fantasy

A tyrant occupies the Fae Palace and the only woman who could stop him is hiding in Kentucky, drinking wine with a Milton scholar. But that might be a good thing.

Sabrina, a small-town academic, spends her days teaching and hanging out with the kind but somewhat mysterious best friend she met a few years ago. Her life is steady, maybe even a little dull. Until her friend’s family arrives. Suddenly, Fae is no longer a fictional place. Magic is real. And, oddly enough, Sabrina’s knowledge of a 1634 play may hold the key to saving Nin and her realm.

Nin landed in Kentucky after escaping her captor, the tyrant she once loved. The human realm is calming for her, with moments of joy, but she hates how she hides who and what she is from Sabrina. When Nin’s family unexpectedly arrives at her greenhouse, a series of events force her to share her secrets and grapple with her place in Fae — past, present, and future.

Sabrina and Nin must trust in their friendship, themselves, and John Milton’s Comus to survive in Fae and save the realm from ruin. If they cannot, terror and destruction will reign far beyond the Fae Palace gates.

Goodreads / Amazon

**Get the extras from the world of The Comus Duology here!**

EXCERPT:

She needed a plan, but she had nothing. Nowhere to go that she could easily reach. No one was near to help. Even if they were with her in this place, or she could miraculously find The Falls where her family now hid, being around her was a danger in this moment because of her uncontrolled magic and the forces that stalked her from the Palace. She missed her old home, she missed the Palace from before, she missed her family and her Queen and her ideals of love now horrifically dashed. She had missed her magic, and now it frightened her because she knew not how to rein it in at this moment. So much to do, to think, to remember, to fear, to hate. Too much. All too much. She finally gave it voice, scrunching her tear-stained face and releasing a scream so fierce and desolate, so filled with magic and loss and pain, that when she caught her breath afterward, she saw her wail had literally ripped a hole in the night air.

Another forest poked through, wild in its own right but smelling of strange soil, utter stillness, and, oddly, a hint of humanity. She approached the split with wonder. She knew of no one who had ever torn through the veil of the realms with only a scream, no spellcraft or intention. But it was just what she needed. A spell was traceable — formal magic scented the air, lingering long after casting and making it easy to follow. Her magic in that moment seeped everywhere, pouring out of her in a continual stream without a definitive ending point or anchor. Comus could not trace this type of magic, mostly because it was something new and unknown. Wouldn’t even consider the possibility of this wild, unwieldy magic because it was something far beyond his own power and therefore inconceivable to one such as him. No one in Comus’ power could come close to figuring this out, either. None of his lackeys had even the hint of that type of power because Comus liked to always be unquestionably the best and most powerful in any room.

Gin could do it. Maybe Mother. They could possibly find her again. They would be the only ones she would want to find her, as defeated and disgraced and dangerous as she was. It was her out, her way to save herself and the rest of Fae. After making up her mind, she slipped through the tear in her reality.

From the other realm, surrounded by new trees and earth and air, she watched the hole in the night heal itself without her intention. Knowing she was in the human world, untouchable by hate or love, apart from all she knew for good and bad, she felt adrift, but also relieved. She did not know this place or the people who inhabited it, yet it did not matter. She was safely away from Comus and utterly alone for the first time in years, her only companion the dense, cold, untouched forest. She breathed a sigh before laying on the leaf-strewn ground and introducing herself to this other earth.

Author Bio:

Sonya Lawson (she/her/they) is a recovering academic currently writing fantasy and other forms of speculative fiction. While she remains a rural Kentuckian at heart, she currently lives in the Pacific Northwest. She fills her days with writing, editing, reading, walking old forests, and watching sitcoms or horror films. You can find more information about current projects and upcoming releases at www.sonyalawson.com.

 

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