Movie Review – #Captured

#Captured
Director: Joe Homokay
Writer: Lizze Gordon
Stars: Lizze Gordon, Gabrielle Romanello, Megan Medellin

Plot: A group of privileged high school kids run an illicit chat room where they livestream their drug fueled sex parties to paying viewers on the internet. Little do they know there’s a murderous zealot on a mission to rid the internet of sin.

Review: I managed all of 10 minutes before I had to stop watching this monstrosity of amateur softcare wanna-be porn film. Budget must have had a grand scale of ten dollars as none of these people could act to save their lives.

Don’t waste your time on this one.

My Rating: 0/10

VBT – Kings and Queens by Anarie Brady and Jae El Foster

Kings & Queens
by Anarie Brady and Jae El Foster

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GENRE: Romance

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BLURB

As I Follow – Blurb by Anarie Brady

Princess Orla must first learn to follow if she is to lead her homeland once her evil step mother is dethroned. Who better to teach her than Prince Darcy, the leader of the rebellion against Queen Ena and a strict but fair Dominant who would love nothing better than to take the beautiful Orla in hand and return the kingdom of Athas to its former glory.

The Man With the Kind Eyes – Blurb: by Jae El Foster

Bridgette Mahoney just wanted a better life for herself and the people suffering under a corrupt president. What she gets is nominated to be Queen of the country whether she wants the position or not.

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EXCERPT

As I Follow, So Shall I Lead excerpt:

“Princess, might I have a word?” a deep voice startled her out of her thoughts.

“Prince Darcy!” she squeaked, jumping to her feet. “Of course.”

“Shall we take a walk? I understand you have only seen this room of the Chateau. I’d like to give you a tour,” he said, holding his hand out to her.

Hesitantly she reached out her own hand and nodded. Ever since Gala shared some of her experiences in the Chateau’s training rooms, Orla had been curious. Actually, she had been dying to know more. While Gala had not gone into details, she had spoken of the feelings evoked by some of her sessions. Orla longed to experience such feelings of freedom, power, and something indescribable. During the past few weeks, she had witnessed the beauty of a woman kneeling before a man, the protective gentleness in the eyes of a dominant, and the glow of pride when a dominant praised his submissive. Orla felt a tingle deep within her body and had to admit that she longed for such feelings as well.

“Do you understand the dual nature of this facility?” Darcy asked as he led her down an ornate hallway.

“I believe so,” she answered. “The Chateau trains people in the arts of dominance and submission. Submission primarily, because, according to Gala, every good dominant understands what it is like to be a submissive.”

“That’s right.”

“People pay handsomely for the privilege of coming here to learn. The tuition then pays for the training of warriors who are in resistance to Queen Ena. They wish to overthrow her and place me back on the throne,” Orla said quietly.

“Indeed. Orla, it was your father’s last wish that you also be trained,” Darcy stated. “I am more than willing to help you learn how to become an effective ruler, but to become an applicant, you must yourself request it. We do not force anyone here. We abide by the dictums of Safe, Sane, and Consensual.”

Orla stopped walking and turned to face Darcy. “I understand and greatly respect you for following those dictums. Over the past few years, I have had no choice in what I wear, what I eat, when I speak, what I do, not even when I sleep. I’m ready for freedom of choice. My father also taught me that freedom is possible only when everyone agrees to follow certain guidelines. I don’t know if I’m ready to consent to this training yet, but let’s finish the tour and then I’ll decide.”

Darcy smiled and Orla breathed a sigh of relief. Despite Gala’s assurances, she hadn’t been sure that Darcy would respect her decision.

“Princess, I see you are wise as well as cautious. Both excellent characteristics in both a ruler and a submissive. Shall we continue?” he asked before tucking her hand into the crook of his arm.

Orla’s eyes widened and her heart began to beat erratically as Darcy showed her every room of the Chateau. First, there was the Medical Room where applicants were given a thorough medical exam to determine their overall fitness. “No one is excluded because of a physical difficulty,” he explained, “but it is essential that a primary be intimately familiar with any limitations. For example, if an applicant has respiratory difficulties, then the primary knows never to engage in breath play and to be very, very cautious about gags.”

“Good to know you take safety seriously,” Orla commented.

“It’s the first S of our motto – Safe, Sane, and Consensual.”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links

Anarie Brady writes hot, happily ever after love stories filled with strong men and strong women who choose to submit to their own desires. She also loves scratching her chinchilla in all his itchy spots, sipping tea, and savoring whiskey. She absolutely adores hearing from fans, so don’t be shy!

https://anariebrady.blog/
https://www.facebook.com/Anarie-Brady-1419912908242821/
https://twitter.com/anariebrady

Jae El Foster is an author with whom you question going to bed with at night, but you dare to venture beneath the sheets with him anyway. As the venture concludes, you are perhaps romanced by it, or perhaps you are frightened by it. Don’t worry, because you are always satisfied by it. Despite the title or genre of the book, Jae El sets out to please you with climatic and unexpected conclusions that will make you tremble with emotion. Hop aboard the Jae El train and give it a good ride.

https://www.jaeelbooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/authorjaeelfoster/
https://twitter.com/jaeelbooks

Buy Links:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kings-and-queens-anarie-brady/1128740431

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

The authors will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Q&A with…. Anarie Brady

Tell us about you as a person.

I’m afraid of granddaddy long legged spiders. SERIOUSLY afraid!! I KNOW they can’t really hurt humans, but I don’t care. Lifting their entire bodies with those hair like legs – YIKES!!!

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

I’d like to hang with Helen of Troy. I really think she got a bad rap for that whole Trojan War thing. She has always seemed to me to be a victim, but I don’t really know, so I’d like to ask her a few questions, share a glass of wine, and just chat. Did she really WANT to leave with Paris? Which guy did she love? Did she love any of them? So. Many. Questions!

What’s the story behind your latest book?

I’m always been a fan of fairy tales, even as an adult. The basic tales, though are skeletal, so why not flesh them out with interesting, updated, adult details! I took the basic story of Snow White and ran with it, turning the seven dwarves into seven cabins, the huntsman into a strong dominate trainer, and Snow into strong willed woman who will do anything to help her kingdom and find her own happiness.

What is your writing process?

I need quiet and nice scents. When my youngest moved out on his own, my husband converted his room into an office for me. It’s painted using an umbria blue theme so it’s ocean like. I have two walls painted with chalkboard paint to jot down ideas and lots of scented candles. A nice glass of wine or whiskey doesn’t hurt either.

Tell us about your main character.

Orla is the Snow White character. Snow White, though, is often seen as sweet and helpless. If Orla was going to be a leader for her kingdom, she couldn’t be helpless. She needed to be disciplined, kind, and intelligent. Those where the main characteristics I tried to portray

If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.

For Orla – Saoirse Ronan with a dark wig. Her skin tone is incredible, love the accent, but mainly because she is an incredible actress. For Prince Darcy – Cillian Murphy. Because – well – Holy gods above he’s sexy!!

What are you working on next?

I’m actually taking a bit of a break, but hopefully not for too long. My mother is in the late stages of Alzheimer’s Disease and so right now, she takes priority over everything else.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?

Talk. Talk. Talk. Talk on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and every other social media possible!

What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?

I just finished Before We Were Yours. ABSOLUTELY loved the book!!! As an adopted child, it struck a chord with me. Beautifully written.

Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?

I am a fabulous cook!! I’m a terrible knitter, but I love it anyway. I’m also considering going into storytelling!

You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?

I would love to be able to half the calories in chocolate and whiskey. Why? Isn’t it obvious!

List 5 things on your bucket list:

1. Visit Scotland
2. Hold a grandchild
3. Dance with my husband on our 60th wedding anniversary
4. Pay off all of my debts
5. Have a book on the New York Times bestseller list

Where can readers find you on the web?

I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and I write a blog at https://anariebrady.blog/

Any final thoughts?

The Romance genre takes a bad rap sometimes, and erotica is often given even less respect. I don’t pretend to write the next great American novel. What I write is pure enjoyment and escapism. The world is hard. Why not escape to a place where you know the ending will be happy?

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Q&A with…. Jae El Foster

Tell us about you as a person.

Here are some interesting facts that you might enjoy. I come from a line of storytellers on both sides of my family. My paternal grandfather was an excellent poet, whereas my maternal grandfather could weave the greatest tales imaginable. Even my brother has his hand in the comic book industry with excellent are and scripts. I accredit much of my talent to my genes. Another note is that Jae El Foster has only been my pen name since around 2009 or 2010. The late and great author Eric Arvin – rest in peace – interviewed me about the name change for his blog. Before that, I had been writing under my initials J. L. Foster. During this time, the great digital publishing movement was taking off, and a ton of new writers were being introduced – many of which were using their initials as their author names. I wanted to stand out, and I had been in the game long enough that I knew I could survive it. I chose the name Jae El Foster coyly. Jae El is my initials J. L. spelled out. Sadly, I’m not related to Superman, as I am commonly asked.

If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?

I would enjoy a day with the Pope. I have so many questions considering the books excluded from the Bible that are kept at the Vatican. Our current Pope also holds so much great wisdom and advice. I could tell him about all of the horrible things that I write, and he can tell me about his early days as a priest and his rise to his current position. The Pope is a man in which people should feel easy speaking with, as by now, he has already heard it all and will not be easily shocked.

What’s the story behind your latest book?

In the Kings & Queens anthology, I had two days to create an entry before the submissions deadline ended. I found out about the anthology late – it was my own fault – but I really wanted to come through for DCL Publications. They’ve been a fantastic family to me for a decade now. So, I sat down, stared at my blank word document, and considered the subject. I needed to write something different; I cannot simply write what was expected, any of the time. I decided to write about a future America and its first Queen, and so my contribution was originally titled ‘The First Queen.’ Yet, as with everything I pen, this was not merely a romance. In fact, to see the romance, one must look at romance with whole new eyes and through the vision of the lead character Bridgette. Bridgette’s romance in this belongs with the trust that she holds in a man that has no name. He is simply the man with the kind eyes. This character, originally intended to be minimally used, grew with Bridgette’s trust in him, and he was so poignant that his role brought a change in name to the story – a renaming to ‘The Man with the Kind Eyes.’ Again, this is not your typical story, and it certainly has elements of horror, suspense and science fiction that wave a thin veil over any romantic aspects. Yet, I feel it is a story that had to be told, and my hope is that it will make the readers think further than what they see or know, and that it will shock them with its unimaginable ending.

What is your writing process? 

When I write, I zone everything out. Music can be playing, or not. The television can be off or on. It doesn’t matter, as my brain become one-track and my project becomes my only mission. I do not start anything without a tentative title. I must have a name to begin with – even if that name will change later on as the piece progresses. For instance, I am working on an upcoming story now that I know will have a new name by the end, as I am not happy with its current title. Once I have a title in place, I know what I’m in for when I let go of myself and allow a new voice to take over in my head. This new voice is always unexpected, and it changes from book to book. Some people call it a muse. Either way, I allow it to do the writing. I write at rapid paces since a car accident in 2015 changed the way my brain operates. I am never without a story anymore or the inability to translate thoughts to paper, and thusly I have become greatly more productive with my literary works than I was before my accident. Whereas the accident caused brain injury, it also somehow opened up my mind in creative ways like I’d never known. However, there is a downfall to this swift production of some of the best written books I’ve ever penned. Once I have finished with a story – once the edits are completed and the book is published – a new voice with a new story takes over, and I have trouble recalling what I’ve written prior without reviewing it. For instance, I would be of little help answering questions to most anything that I wrote before my accident.

Tell us about your main character.

Bridgette is your average young lady. She is no more suited to lead an army of rebels than you or I, but she does what she must because – frankly – there is no other choice. She is a survivor, determined to help free her people and avenge them for what has been done. Bridgette does not want power. She wants her people to have the power, but when a crown is placed on her head and she finds that she has no choice but to accept it, she does her best to fulfill her new destiny. Bridgette sounds like a terrific person. I will let the readers be the judge on that.

If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.

I wouldn’t care who they cast for any other role, but for Bridgette, I would like to see an unknown actress play the part. Hollywood has so much power that I believe they should use some of it to help the unknown thespians out there that can’t afford to join SAG, agents or managers. There are a lot of talented people out there, and some of them are dirt poor. A lot of them are on YouTube. I think producers and casting directors would do the world a blessing by surfing some of the talent out there and casting more unknown actors and actresses that need and deserve a break.

What are you working on next?

In production, I currently have Beauty Within arriving electronically and in print this September. This highly anticipated book is a dark, edgy retelling of Beauty and the Beast with an iconic twist that even I never saw coming. Beauty Within also incorporates a character from ‘To Adventure,’ another fairy tale of mine out right now in the anthology Enchanted Fairy Tales, available all over the place. That character is Madame Howell, and I believe you will enjoy her. In October, DCL Publications will release Restive, the long awaited sequel to my 2012 paranormal hit Restless. The story will once again follow best-selling romance novelist Nicola on another thrilling adventure. Restive takes place on one of the most magnificent islands imaginable and will reincorporate the use of the vampire genre from the first book. Restive is sure to swoon and delight lovers of romantic fiction and horror alike. Then, in November, DCL will release The Greatest Gift of All, a winter anthology of romance, holidays, family love, and good times. Whereas most of the stories in the anthology will be brand new, my contribution will be a rerelease of my 2008 story ‘Elisabeth’s Holiday Gift,’ which was originally published way back then in DCL’s When the Snow Lay Round About winter anthology. ‘Elisabeth’s Holiday Gift’ has received a full revision and facelift and is even more heartwarming than before. I’m extremely proud to see this story return, and in an anthology with an amazing cast of authors. DCL Publications has some new blood joining me, along with some beloved known names from our castle.

What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?

Work, work, work! Utilize social media. Utilize Twitter – that’s where I am most of the time. You’ll find that word of your book will travel greater distances through Twitter than with other social media networks. All it takes is building up your followers, and all that takes is work. If you have one, two, even three followers – post like you have a thousand. Use commonly visited hashtags like #amwriting or #writerslife and let people know what you have to offer. Another word of advice – don’t spam your new followers. It is bad play to send them a private message promoting yourself immediately after they follow you. Let them know what you offer through your tweets. Lead them to your website or through the buy pages for your books through your tweets. And remember: Twitter is character limited. I use http://www.tinyurl.com to make my links shorter. Also, hit me up on Twitter @jaeelbooks – I retweet often and will be happy to help spread the word.

What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?

Rosemary’s Baby by Ira Levin. It’s a great inspiration to me and my writing. I would not be who I am today without Mr. Levin, Robert Bloch, and Walt Whitman.

Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?

No judging, but I’m one heck of a medium. I’ve been reading tarot cards since I was a child, and I’ve been communicating with the spirit would through séances, board readings, and eye readings for years. I’m also my town’s go-to person for house cleansings.

You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?

Hypnotic influence. I would like the power to will individuals into doing the right thing.

List 5 things on your bucket list

1. To write more books than humanly possible
2. To finally discover the true meaning of energy’s existence
3. To live by the ocean with soft sand between my toes as I walk the shoreline
4. To visit Italy and pretend like I’m in Under the Tuscan Sun
5. To see one of my books turned into a film – I wouldn’t even care if it sucked.

Where can readers find you on the web?

I am all over the internet. The easiest way to find me is to visit www.jaeelbooks.com – there, you will find links to my Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as other fun things like contests, free stories, and essays that will take you behind the scenes of my books. Don’t forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter while you’re there so that you can stay on top of everything that’s going on – all in a single monthly compact email. I host contests for my followers on Twitter every now and then too. All the more reason to follow me. As for the contests, you can currently enter to win a chance to be in one of my upcoming novels. I will also be introducing a rather huge contest in September. Details on that will be released in the September newsletter and through a blog posting that will be announced on Twitter.

Any final thoughts?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for hosting me, for enduring me, and for allowing me to entertain you. Remember to spread love wherever you go, as love is the most contagious thing in the world.

VBT – PERFECT MISTAKE

Perfect Mistake
by Sophia Karlson

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GENRE: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

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BLURB:

Simone Levin had a dream job as a safari pilot until an unexpected pregnancy clipped her wings. Tired of juggling motherhood with her demanding flight schedule, Simone applies for an office job, unaware that her new boss is Carlo Carlevaro, the man who’d ditched her before finding out he’d knocked her up. Carlo returns to East Africa only to kill another fire—Ivory trafficking from his lodges threatens to destroy his company. Finding Simone back on the payroll comes as a pleasant surprise. As his employee, Simone is off-limits, but she is the only one he trusts to help with his undercover investigation. With time running out, Simone and Carlo strive to expose the trafficking ring, but working together rekindles their mutual desire. When Simone is implicated as a trafficker, revealing her daughter’s existence to Carlo seems inevitable. Acting on her instincts might come too late as the syndicate retaliate and hone in their threat. Will they survive to give their love a chance?

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EXCERPT

Carlo pushed away from the doorframe, took a few steps towards them and stuck out his hand. A sharp pinch from Michael snapped her out of her flustered state, and she offered hers. Carlo’s hand was cool and dry, sending a tremor through her as he wrapped it around hers.

“Simone.”

“Mr…Carlevaro.” She cleared her throat as he let go. She couldn’t help but rub her sweaty palm against her jeans. Touching his cool skin had felt like a disgrace.

“I’m glad you’ve finally arrived.” Carlo’s gaze traveled over her face. It rested on her lips for a moment before it shot back to her eyes. “I want to take off in the next thirty minutes.”

Simone’s heart, which had, for those treacherous few seconds, stood still, started to pound.

“I just landed from a long-haul flight. I’d like to take a quick shower.”

Carlo raised an eyebrow. “A quick shower?” His gaze traveled over her body, mapping the route the water would take.

God, he remembered.

Heat rushed to her cheeks at the potent memories that flooded in her mind. Years ago they had shared many showers that were everything but quick.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links

Sophia Karlson has lived in France, Germany, East Africa, Madagascar (not the movie, the country) and now finds herself back on home ground in South Africa. As a teenager, she devoured romances with far flung settings, loving to travel through books. After school her itchy feet took her around the world, but now she doesn’t get much further than the school run and the daily walk with her very demanding beagle. She writes contemporary and erotic romance, wanting to take readers on a journey of their own. She loves hearing from readers.

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sophia.karlson.5,
Twitter: @SophiaKarlson, on the web at www.sophiakarlson.com
https://twitter.com/sophiakarlson

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Mistake-Sophia-Karlson-ebook/dp/B07CXWFKQ2

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/perfect-mistake-sophia-karlson/1128760824

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Blast – MUSING MEDITERRANEAN

Musing Mediterranean
by Beth Daigle

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GENRE: Memoir

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BLURB

A trip to the Mediterranean—who wouldn’t be thrilled? Beth Daigle should be doing back flips as she prepares to escape her humdrum suburban life, but travel anxiety gets the best of her. This is a trip of a lifetime, something to look forward to, yet Beth is dreading it.

The daughter of an Italian mother and Greek father, Beth has always dreamed of visiting Greece and Italy. Her Type A husband, Tony, revels in planning every detail of their two-week vacation. The plan expands to include not only Beth and Tony’s two tween daughters, but Beth’s parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece and nephew.

As her family’s excitement mounts, so does Beth’s trepidation. She experiences serious anxiety about the flight itself, plus spending two solid weeks with her extended family.

Despite her worries, Beth manages the eight-hour plane ride to Rome, and the adventure begins.

If you’ve never experienced the beauty of the Mediterranean, or even if you have, Musing Mediterranean will take you there through Beth’s eyes, page by page.

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EXCERPT

ROME

Our first tour of Rome took us on a romp through the city on a guided golf cart tour. That’s right, I said golf cart.

At one point along the tour, I was positioned on the back seat of the cart facing oncoming traffic. This didn’t faze me, as I don’t experience motion sickness.

Hanging off the back of our cart, I held on for dear life as we attempted to keep pace with traffic and simultaneously not lose our caravan. It wasn’t until I was faced with one particularly anxious bus driver that I began to worry that we might not end our excursion with the same number of people as we began. As traffic slowed and my cart came to a near stop, the bus pulled up behind me so closely and so quickly I could’ve leaned over and kissed it.

As the bus approached, I didn’t know what else to do other than to squeal in horror and cover my eyes—I was sure I was about to meet my fate. It all happened so quickly that I froze, unable to think of a better way to save myself and others on board.

“What is going on back there—why are you screaming?” Tony shouted.

“I’m about to be flattened by a bus!”

When Tony looked back to see how close the bus really had come, all he could say was, “Holy crap!”

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AUTHOR Bio and Links

Beth Daigle is a lifelong New Englander residing north of Boston with her husband and daughters. Prior to settling into her role as a writer, Beth was a marketing professional whose favorite part of the job was writing. As a freelancer, Beth has enjoyed contributing to numerous lifestyle and home publications, yet she yearned for something more than a magazine article. Then along came Musing Mediterranean. Beth quickly became immersed in chronicling this travel event and articulating her perceptions of the places she visited, the people she met, the foods she enjoyed and the crazy moments she encountered. The idea that someone who may never travel to Greece, Italy or Turkey could appreciate this experience through Beth’s eyes became a driving force behind the story. Revealing her struggle with travel anxiety helped Beth move forward and embrace, once again, how very wonderful it is to travel the world.

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” St. Augustine.

Beth is a creative soul who finds joy in art, home design, gardening, reading, writing, a good laugh and an even better television show.
Website: BethDaigle.com

Blog: 3OlivesandaTwist.com

Instagram: 3olivesandatwist

Facebook: @3olivesandatwist

Twitter: @3olivesnatwist

Available at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1947966073?pf_rd_p=d1f45e03-8b73-4c9a-9beb-4819111bef9a&pf_rd_r=W3MJ4WHBPK1MTJC8KW6Y

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Beth Daigle will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

VBT – Path to Passion

Path to Passion
by Nana Prah

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Heir to his family’s global empire, branding genius Miguel Astacio turns everything into marketing gold. Only his best friend’s sister seems immune to his magic touch. Until Tanya Carrington comes to him to save her floundering nightclub. Miguel is ready to rectify past mistakes. But will his supreme sacrifice win the heart of the woman he loves?

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EXCERPT

Miguel and her brother had been close since the moment they’d met. It had taken effort to tamp down the jealousy she’d had of sharing her sibling with Miguel. “Thank you. But I’ll pay you for your consultation.”

He cocked both his head and brow.

“I don’t have the money now, but with your Midas-branding touch, I’ll be rolling in dough soon enough.”

She had missed his contagious laughter over the years. “I still won’t take your money. This is a favor to a friend. And his sister.”

Tanya bowed her head to hide the sting. So they weren’t even friends. Sure they’d spent ten years not speaking, but it sounded harsh for him not to acknowledge what they’d once been. She’d always wanted more from him, but hadn’t been able to get it, so she’d ended up with nothing. Now they’d be working together. Would she be able to keep her heart locked up and safe? Did she have a choice? She looked up to have his glorious eyes fill her vision, and for a moment, her hands itched to hold his face still so she could feel his luscious lips against hers just one more time. Maybe the need for his touch would go away if she indulged her whim.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links

Nana Prah first discovered romance in a book from her eight grade summer reading list and has been obsessed with it ever since. Her fascination with love inspired her to write in her favorite genre where happily-ever-after is the rule.

She is a published author of contemporary, multicultural romances. Her books are sweet with a touch of spice. When she’s not writing she’s, over-indulging in chocolate, enjoying life with friends and family, and tormenting nursing students into being the best nurses the world has ever seen. Nana loves to connect with her readers on Twitter @Nana Prah and Facebook at Nana Prah, author.

Buy Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Passion-Astacios-Nana-Prah-ebook/dp/B0778RGL2Q
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Path-Passion-Mills-Kimani-Astacios-ebook/dp/B079KLFH7H
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Path-Passion-Astacios-Nana-Prah-ebook/dp/B0778RGL2Q
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/path-to-passion-nana-prah/1127454529?ean=9781335216809#/
Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488081910_path-to-passion.html
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/mt/book/path-to-passion-the-astacios-book-2/id1345049748?mt=11

Contact Details:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NanaPrah
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NanaPrah.Author
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanaprahauthor/?hl=en
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nana-Prah/e/B00E9ILIPA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1517833825&sr=8-1
Blog : www.nanaprah.blogspot.com
Newsletter: https://www.nanaprah.com/newsletter-sign-up

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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Nana Prah will be awarding a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $20 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

VBT – Monsterland Reanimated

Monsterland Reanimated
by Michael Okon

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GENRE: Young Adult Fiction/Thriller

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BLURB:

After Monsterland has imploded, the entire world is thrown into chaos. World leadership is gone, economies have collapsed, and communications are non-existent. Wyatt must go beyond the boundaries of his small town to reestablish contact with the outside world, and alert the government about a traitor-in-chief.

During his journey he discovers a new threat released from the bowels of the defunct theme park.

When an army of relentless mummies, a life-sucking ooze called The Glob, and a hybrid reanimated Behemoth rise from the depths of Monsterland, who will survive?

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EXCERPT

A bright moon painted the desert’s surface pewter. Here and there, dark spots soiled the landscape like oil spills. Most of the bodies had been taken before the troops were ordered to leave. They carted away the corpses, bulldozing the zombies into mass graves, until radios chirped with urgent orders deploying the soldiers to the bigger threats that erupted in the main cities like a chain of angry volcanos.

Monsterland was extinguished, its carcass left for the vultures to pick, the exhibits silent as a tomb.

The dead president and his equally dead entourage were whisked away on Air Force One, along with the dark-clad special operatives that came and left like the brisk desert wind that now howled through the empty streets.

A gate screamed in the silence, slamming with a reverberating smash. The uneven gait of someone with a physical challenge filled the void. The scrape and plod of his limp echoed against the wall of mountains framing the theme park. His labored breathing huffed as he made his way down the streets.

A door creaked loudly as it was blown by the wind. He stopped, his distorted figure silhouetted in the pale moonlight, his body turning silver. He looked at the broken glass littering the pavement like diamonds, then up to the still, pre-dawn sky. He considered the sun peeking over the jagged horizon in the east, its golden light painting the dips and hollows of the hills. Soon the coming day would chase the darkness away.

Time was the enemy now. He had to move faster, or it would be too late. He picked up his pace, lurching along the winding road. A keening howl ricocheted through the streets, bouncing off the walls. It sounded like a … no, he thought, it couldn’t be. The werewolves were all dead. Destroyed by Vincent Konrad when he made their heads explode.

The old man paused, listening for it again, and was not disappointed when the animal whimpered. He gauged it to be inside the defunct vampire exhibit. He moved toward the entrance. The storefronts had been destroyed. A few body parts lay on the pavement, as if people had discarded them in a rush. He heard the scraping of paws on the street and a shiver went down his crooked spine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Website:
http://www.michaelokon.com/

Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Okon/e/B0752THRZV/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

iBooks Link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/author/michael-okon/id1292020808?mt=11

Kobo Link:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Michael Okon&fcsearchfield=Author

Barnes & Nobel Link:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monsterland-michael-okon/1126998959?ean=9781614755944

SmashWords Link:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/MichaelOkon

Email:
michaelokonbooks@gmail.com

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/IAmMichaelOkon

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/iammichaelokon/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/iammichaelokon

Snapchat:
https://www.snapchat.com/add/iammichaelokon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interview Short

Who would play you in a film of your life?
Someone with a ridiculous six pack. Maybe Channing Tatum or Chris Evans.

Have you ever read or seen yourself as a character in a book or a movie?
Yes. Many of my characters share traits I have, like being terrified of flying.

What is the single most powerful challenge when it comes to writing novel?
Completing your characters arcs. If you don’t, you fail.

What do you consider your biggest failure?
Being overweight in my 20s. I wish I would have learned about diet and health in my 20s. I would have never touched sugar or carbs.

VBT – THE FORTRESS

The Fortress
by Madeleine Romeyer Dherbey

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GENRE: WWII Historical

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

The war has not made much of difference in Alix’s life. Her father has seen to it that she grows up unaware, unworried, but safe in her tiny village under the cliffs of the Vercors. All around her he has built a fortress whose walls are impregnable—until the 27th of April, 1944. That day he makes a stupid mistake up on the cliff, and the walls of the Fortress start crashing down. Reality breaks into Alix’s life with unrelenting violence, unforeseen possibilities. From now on, every decision she makes will mean life or death.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXTRA INFORMATION

Six weeks before D-Days, a thousand kilometers from the beaches of Normandy.

There are no generals in the French Vercors, just a handful of men and women against the Nazi war machine. They come from Bretagne, Paris, and Slovenia, and the villages up on the cliff. They are the Fortress.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

When she looked up, the cart had rounded the curve, and the way ahead was wide open. In a minute they would leave the cliff Madeleine Romeyer Dherbey 14 behind. She stopped the horses and turned around, expecting to see her father on top of the log pile. “Papa?” she called. There was no response. Her eyes darted from one place to another. On the wall against the blue sky, behind the cart, down the road, as far as it went along the rock face. “Papa?” she called again. He was there a second ago…right there, he was standing right there…. “Papa,” she cried. “Where are you?” Then she saw Mikko, two paws on the wall, sniffing. And her hands started to shake. “Papa,” she said, but no sound came out. “Papa, come back.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Madeleine Romeyer Dherbey was born in the French Alps, moved to the United States twenty-five years later, and currently lives in the mountains of Virginia with her husband, two daughters, and Mikko.

Website
WWW.MadeleineRomeyerDherbey.com
FaceBook
https://www.facebook.com/Madeleine-Romeyer-Dherbey-2067077286871927/?modal=admin_todo_tour

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

Madeleine Romeyer Dherbey will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interview

Tell us about you

I was born in a little village nestled under the cliffs of the Vercors, in the French Alps. Back then, I found it unbearably boring, and I couldn’t wait to leave, as far as possible. I was an impossible daughter, looking for the worst trouble I could get myself into, dropping out of high school, going in and out of horrible relationships, hitch-hiking throughout Europe before resuming my studies—for a year or two, until something dangerous lured me away again.

Then I came to America. With my high-school English and $176 in my pocket, I found a baby-sitting and house-keeping job in DC, and never looked back. I love this nation, so unlike mine in spirit, where one person can change the world, and everyone believes he can be that person. In France people trust the government; here, people trust each other, and that’s what changes the world. That American dynamism, the palpable energy that somehow compels us to try again, that is what makes this country the most individually—and spiritually—empowering place on the planet.

I go from Beethoven to Finnish death metal. Everything in between seems bland. My favorite bands are Wolfheart, Insomnium, Ghost Brigade, and Swallow the sun. Wolfheart is playing a small club in Richmond end of October. Can’t wait!

My best adventure was travelling through the Kheiber Pass with a bus load of Taliban fighters and a fake Afghan husband, a real Voodoo ceremony in Haiti. Our driver got possessed, it was awesome.

Hang out with one famous person

This is very hard one. I’m hesitating between Duterte, Pope Francis, Trump, and Clinton. Ideally I wish we could put the four of them in a room and watch.

What’s the story behind the book

In one sentence, the six weeks story of a small group of resistants in the Vercors mountains, as they prepare for action on D-Day.

Because it’s a Historical, part of the plot is a product of the political and historical forces that shaped WWII in France. There are in my past three uncles who were condemned to death for collaborating with the Vichy government, a puppet of the Nazis. Their sentences were eventually commuted to national disgrace, and ten years of forced labor—thanks to my father, who had fought with honor during the war and was able to litigate a lighter sentence with the subsequent political swamp of the liberation. My uncles had to leave the area to avoid being murdered, but we stayed. I wanted to do justice to the conflicting truths of men, women, families, rivals, religions, collaborators, communists, nationalists and simple French patriots during the Nazi occupation of my beloved Alp mountains. The plot is simply a way to let them speak for themselves.

But there in the middle of my noble historical mission, a love story was born, and once it takes roots, it drives the narrative. Marc has pledged his life to defend the Vercors, and he is a man of his word. It is with genuine distress that he discovers his attraction to Alix, and he fights it. The tension that builds between them, driven by irrepressible attraction and conflict, is shaped not by the violence that unfolds around them, rather than superficial sexual drama. That love story made the writing almost hypnotic for me.

What’s your writing process

Shock Top works best, one and a half, no more, and Finnish metal music. My favorite bands are Ghost Brigade, Insomnium, Wolfheart, and Swallow The sun. It’s as vast and brilliant as a Beethoven Symphony, thunderous but melodic, the perfect emotional outlet. And then, frozen expanses, Nordic lakes, white forests, it’s land’s end, after all.

The main characters

Either Marc or Alix, the two protagonists, two mismatched people who would have never looked at each other had the war not thrown them in a battle for survival and revenge. They meet at the edge of defeat and find in each other the strength to overcome. Marc, a complicated man who is a blend of all the men I have loved, their steely strength and emotional secrets—no masculinity is too toxic there—I have always imagined as Russell Crowe. I’m not sure who Alix is, the woman I wish I were, I guess, calm but passionate, intelligent and organic. Isn’t it why we write, to re-invent ourselves? I also love Angélique, a very emancipated woman who sees herself as an experiment for God to test man’s endurance to Evil. And finally, Lovrenc, the Slovene warrior, who can be cruel and tender almost at the same time, coldly rational and as superstitious as a medieval peasant, and insanely brave. All my characters are brave.

Who would be the lead actor

Ideally, a younger Russell Crowe for the Resistance leader, but I’ll take Chris Pratt, who is the right age and has the charisma.

What are you working on next.

A novel centered around the federal entrapment of a young teacher. I have been teaching for 13 years, and have a deep emotional connection with my special education students, as well as a fairly good understanding of how a public school system is run. The plot is very political, and politically-incorrect. Expressing political opinion in school is forbidden—really forbidden. Besides, the likes of me are pretty much underground. We recognize each other like Christians in Rome, with a glance and a rolling of the eyes. So being able to write the ins and outs of oppression in the public schools world, coupled with a the building of a fake terror plot by a branch of the federal government no one in their right mind should trust, was a bit of a catharsis for me. You will love it or hate it, depending on your allegiances, and who cares? It’s not meant to be commercial.

What advice for promotion for other authors

Serious? Don’t I wish I had the answer! Figure out who you are, what you feel comfortable doing, and do it. Use up your personal network, and radiate possibilities—one of my colleague’s favorite quote—from there. I don’t think there’s much of a point in rushing, you’ll make mistakes. Start writing another book, just to keep cool, and make one marketing attempt a day. An email, a letter, a flyer in someone’s mailbox, a talk with a stranger on the trail. Every opportunity can make a difference.

Favorite book

Under the Northern star by Väinö Linna, a Finnish author, naturally. A story of hard work, loyalty, forgiveness, and amazing courage during the ferocious civil war in Finland. Read it. Akseli Koskela will show you what a real man looks like.

Special talents

I don’t think I have any special talents. I’m very good at a few things, but not outstanding. Mostly I work very hard, and my morale is strong. My family is what keeps me going. Whatever I do, I do for them. If it weren’t for them, I’d be under a bridge in Bulgaria.

Which super power and why

The power to hold my mouth. Impossible, I know, but one can always dream.

5 things on your bucket list

-Pick up my daughters at the airport in two hours after four weeks away in France—can’t wait!
-Finish painting the hallway in wide yellow/grey vertical stripes. It was hard, but worth it the effort.
-Mulching the whole garden—not easy with my stupid dog Mikko’s teeth clasped into every fifty-pound bag. He tries to help, though…
-Get tickets for the Wolfheart concert in Richmond on October 28.
-Make my daily marketing outreach attempt. Leave flyers at the airport?

Web link
www.madeleineromeyerdherbey.com

VBT – The McKenzie Files

About the Book

Title: The McKenzie Files

Author: Barry K. Nelson

Genre: Science-Fiction

The United Protectorate is under attack by the Brelac, a bloodthirsty reptilian alien race bent on destroying humanity. A dark alliance between the Brelac and the Vendetta, a separatist organization, looms over the Protectorate. The Brelac’s onslaught brings forth the creation of the genetically engineered humanoid weapons called Reploids. Reploids are identical copies of real humans captured, killed, cloned, embedded with powerful psionic abilities, and programmed to serve the Brelac. They are untraceable and blend into human society so believably, the Reploids themselves do not know they are clones.

Colin McKenzie, part of a military team sent to a remote planet to investigate and capture a downed Brelac ship, turns on his commanding officer in an attempt to protect a shipwrecked band of Brelac soldiers. But he is captured and reprogrammed – along with two other arrested Reploids – to serve the government they were originally created to destroy.

The balance is upset when a weapon powerful enough to bring the Protectorate to its knees is about to be unleashed – and the Protectorate’s only hope of stopping it is the three Reploids.

Author Bio

A Pennsylvania native, Barry K. Nelson has attended college and has worked at a variety of jobs, including retail and the corporate environment. Barry enjoys reading and gardening and is a fan of science fiction and horror movies, Marvel comic collecting, and the X-box gaming.

Barry has written several short stories, and his first book in the science fiction series, The McKenzie Files, followed by the sequels, Assassination Anxiety, Obliteration, and Maximum Deevor.

Barry is a member of Ning and Goodreads, can be found on Facebook, and can also be reached through Dreaming Big Publications..

Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barry.k.nelson
Publisher: http://www.dreamingbigpublications.com
Amazon (eBook): https://www.amazon.com/McKenzie-Files-Barry-Nelson-ebook/dp/B07FTJ4C9V/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1534348561&sr=1-4
Amazon (Paperback): https://www.amazon.com/McKenzie-Files-Book-One/dp/1947381040/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1534348561&sr=1-4

Book Excerpt

For a moment the Brelac standing before Fenlow remained silent. Fenlow’s skin twitched, apprehensive as to what would happen next. He had limited personal involvement with these creatures, but knew that they were as unpredictable as they were vicious. He eyed the rows of long teeth under the curled lips and suppressed a shudder.

The Brelac uttered a deep growl to slowly form a single name. “Fenlow. So, you’re the Great Doctor Fenlow. One of the first traitors in the brief history of this war. We finally meet.”

“I find the word traitor to be a little too malignant to suit my purpose,” Fenlow said quickly. “I’d like to think of myself as an entrepreneur.”

The Brelac growled again. Showing more of his sharp teeth. “Traitor, entrepreneur. It’s all the same to me. The point is that you’re here. The question is, why?”

“I’m here to speak to Bane Mariner. I have a proposition for him.”

“You are addressing Governor General Bane Mariner. Supreme Commander of the Brelac Empire. And I hope that your proposition is worth my time.”

“It is,” Fenlow assured him. “What I’m about to propose will greatly benefit both you and my company.”

“Carp Technologies,” Mariner leaned back on his heels, his tail stretching out to counterbalance his shifting weight. “I admire your company. Playing both sides of the war for their own benefit. All the while maintaining the facade of a benevolent corporation serving your little corner of the universe. I wonder, what your people would say if they knew that you and your company were working with us to create the Reploid menace?”

“I’m…I’m afraid that the Reploid program has been discontinued for the present time. More especially the advanced Reploids. En-route to Helios on the planet Meridan one of your shuttles carrying several Reploid units was shot down by Protectorate forces. Three Reploids were captured by the military. Carp considered this to be a threat to company security and decided to halt the project.”

Fenlow withheld the fact that he himself had recommended halting the project. Aided by Carp’s resources, Fenlow produced the Reploids in a laboratory within a company research vessel stationed at a secret location in space. Fenlow notified his Brelac contact on a secured channel when each shipment of Reploids would be due for delivery, and would then meet a Brelac transport shuttle at a designated rendezvous point.

Curious about the Brelac’s vision without the use of physical eyes, Fenlow had asked to examine their psionic implants. After months of extensive research he’d been able to create a more advanced version of the implants, and promised to deliver dozens of Reploids armed with the implants to help the Brelac achieve a swifter victory. Highly treasonous acts that would certainly earn Fenlow and others within Carp Technologies a swift death sentence.

“Those Reploids in the hands of your military could pose a problem,” Mariner stated, cracking his knuckles.

“They’re no threat. There are only three of them. The military will make limited use of their abilities, and I’ve already taken steps to diminish their effectiveness,” Fenlow paused. “Carp’s board of directors has decided to move forward with Operation Broad Axe. I have to do what I can to insure that the plan is successful. This means that I have to begin some of the more advanced projects that I’ve been working on.”

“And you need my help to pull all this off,” Mariner added. He went silent, his eyeless face studying Fenlow. “Let him go,” he growled.

Both guards raised their left hands to their heads in a familiar military salute and exited the hall with haste.

Fenlow thought that it was curious how the two Brelac saluted in such a fashion. As if they were mimicking human troopers. He suspected that he would learn a great deal about these creatures by working closely among them in the days ahead.

“Fix this man a seat next to mine,” Mariner blared out. “He’s my guest of honor.”
The attendants serving food and drink quickly provided a place at the table on Mariner’s right side, and Fenlow sat as instructed, his hands slightly shaking in his lap. Using a long, two-pronged fork an attendant quickly loaded his plate with three long sections of the pale snake-like meats and two of the centipedes, steam rising from their cooked flesh.
Fenlow stared at his plate. The appearance of the food before him was nauseating enough, but it’s oily smell combined with a sour milk odor left him near paralyzed.

Mariner silently faced him, and a thin stream of saliva dripped out of the right side of his mouth. Fenlow shuddered, slightly spooked in the close sight of Mariner’s scaled face and the long pointed teeth in the constant grin.

Fenlow nervously cleared his throat. “I suppose you’re not serving any salads.”

A faint, hoarse growl came from Mariner’s throat. “Nothing so elaborate here.”

“I see.

Fenlow looked to the left and right side of his plate and saw no silverware. He quietly groaned in frustration. It was evident that the Brelac were eating with their hands, and Fenlow desired to blend in with his hosts. He gingerly picked up a centipede. It was warm and soft to the touch. He held it up to his face and managed not to flinch away. At least he was able to distinguish which item smelled like sour milk.

A deep grunt came from Mariner. “You look like you were just kissed by Pandora. Don’t worry, Doctor. It won’t bite you back.”

Kissed by Pandora. A strange terminology to use. Perhaps an example of their alien culture?

But the name, Pandora, stuck in Fenlow’s mind. There was something familiar about it. He thought that this would be the perfect time to get a little more background on his allies. He laid his centipede back down on his plate but kept his fingers on it.

“So, I’ve done a little research and found that you Brelac are Reploids yourselves,” he said.

“To a degree we are all the same,” Mariner sluggishly droned out, grabbing his own centipede and downing it in one loud gulp. “Our race needed a technological means to insure its continuation.”

“A technological means,” Fenlow repeated. “And what of your females? I noticed that through all the grunting and growling you all sound male.”

“As I have already explained, we are all the same,” Mariner said. “We have created the means of producing the perfect military force. Our soldiers originate from templates that are devoid of fear, unhindered by compassionate doubts, and minds that are not mired by the frivolous aberrations that obstruct you humans.”

“What about these original templates that you mentioned? I’m assuming that it’s some sort of original genetic stock.”

“Our original source is centuries old and continues to endure. But its history is not important.” He waved a clawed hand. “All that matters is that it serves us as we produce our numbers en-masse in order to achieve our objective.”

“And that objective would be?” Fenlow asked, suspecting he already knew the answer.
“Our objective is to spread ourselves across this universe and administer retribution to any and all opposition. Then we will become the only supreme power. That is our mission passed down to us through generations. This is what we will achieve. And you, Doctor Fenlow, will help us.”

Fenlow pondered Mariner’s words, fingertips stroking the soft white flesh of the centipede on his plate. He was still dreading the notion of being forced to eat this thing.

The Brelac mission of conquest and retribution. A chilling thought.

But Fenlow’s job was to find a way to work Carp Technologies’ interests into the mission so that their own plans could materialize unscathed. And with the Brelac’s help his job would be much easier.

“I’ll help you,” Fenlow told him, nodding.

He took a long look at the centipede he was holding. He picked it up and slowly raised it to his face, holding his breath against the smell. He opened his mouth.