Category Archives: Book Blasts
Book Blast – PARAGON
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Now that high school is over, Randi just wants to live her quiet life in her little town, but it doesn’t feel right without her friends there. Ever the daredevils, they’ve gone to seek adventure in the capital city of Grandin, and Randi can’t help but feel left behind. Not to mention she definitely can’t stop thinking about that kiss she and Eddy shared before he left.
When Randi discovers a mysterious mark on her skin that matches an illustration in “A Handbook on Paragonhood”, she’s thrown into a world of powerful gods and ancient magic that she thought only existed in the myths. She’ll have to step out of her comfort zone—and into the dangerous streets of Grandin—to find a way to protect herself and the people she loves.
Randi’s not the only one with a secret, though, and she finds herself questioning who she can trust. Randi will have to wrestle with what it means to be a Paragon and how far she’s willing to go to do what’s right.
With the fate of the world on the line, can she live up to being one of the chosen?
Read an Excerpt
Louis comes into view as I round the corner of the restaurant into the simple, well-kept yard. He’s facing the other way, holding a wooden staff, not even wearing a coat. I’m about to call out and let him know I’m there, but before I can, he spins in a circle, extending the stick as gracefully as if it were a part of his arm. His movements are soft and flowing as he twists around a large cobbled circle in the middle of the yard. It looks like a gentle dance, but it’s evident from the way he maneuvers the stick and guards his torso that it’s also a fight.
Louis comes back to a neutral position and bows to an invisible adversary before him. “That was the swan,” he says, making me jump. “And this is the dragon.”
He steps aggressively, each strike hard and fierce. He jabs the staff out before him and twirls, nearly horizontal with it. A few stances later, he accidentally whacks himself in the shoulder with the practice weapon.
He bursts out laughing. “It’s not my best form.” He approaches me while massaging his shoulder. “Good thing you’re not my grandma, or you’d make me practice until I got it right.”
“I like the swan better, anyway.”
“Me too.” He blinks as a raindrop falls on his cheek. We both turn to the sky as thunder rumbles in the distance. “Looks like it’ll be a downpour.”
About the Author Shauna Alderson began writing teen fantasy even before she was a teen. After she “grew up”, she completed creative writing courses (and a BA in Development Studies) at the University of Calgary. When not reading or writing, she can usually be found teaching ESL, composing on the piano, creating art, or volunteering abroad. She also enjoys dessert, Studio Ghibli films, and being the silliest person she knows.
Website: https://shaunaalderson.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AldersonShauna
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Paragon-Shauna-Alderson-ebook/dp/B0851YGGTW/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/paragon-shauna-alderson/1136514085?ean=9781643901275
Chapters: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/paragon/9990058018816-item.html
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/paragon-8
Shauna Alderson will be awarding a $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
VBT – THE TWISTED OAK
The Twisted Oak
by Sarah Hadley Brook
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GENRE: LGBTQ Romance/MM Romance
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BLURB:
Wade Dwyer’s life is turned upside down when his father dies and he learns he must marry or he and his siblings will lose the ranch. One last jab of the knife from his father. On top of that, his father’s only friend knows about the stipulation and is determined to own the property by any means necessary.
He’s facing the very real possibility of being the reason his family loses their home when his brother’s best friend, Lance Matthews, offers to walk down the aisle with him. A faux marriage to the man he’s loved for years is a torture he isn’t sure he can endure.
Can he keep the ranch … and the man of his dreams, too?
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EXCERPT
Over an hour later, covered in dirt and grime and smelling like cattle, Wade walked through the back door into the kitchen and was immediately met by a furious Allyson.
“What the hell? Do you know people are already arriving? The wedding starts in fifteen minutes, Wade.” She stood in his way, her hand on her waist. Her purple dress clung to her small frame, ending just above her knees, and Wade couldn’t help think that Casey was a lucky man. Allyson was beautiful in a wholesome, girl-next-door kind of way. Her auburn hair, more red than orange, hung down in ringlets around her shoulders. Her cornflower blue eyes sparked with anger as he met her gaze and he wanted to take a step back, but refused to cower to someone standing barely over five feet.
“Well?”
He lost the battle and took that step back. It didn’t matter. She took a step forward.
“Cattle got out. I texted,” he explained, his eyes flitting around the kitchen. Something smelled really good, like apples and cinnamon, and his stomach rumbled. He was starving.
“Lance and Casey have already brought everything over from Lance’s and they’ve dressed for the wedding,” she accused, pointing a finger at him. “You know you could have let Charlie handle this.”
His hackles up, he straightened and looked her in the eye. “He’s got some people fixing the fence right now, but no, I needed to handle this. Milton Randle tried to steal some of our cattle. A Dwyer needed to be there.”
Her shoulders sagged a little and she let out a huff. “Fine, but you owe Lance an apology. He thinks you don’t want to do this.”
Wade stared at her. “It’s a fake wedding. Of course I don’t want to do this.”
She pressed her lips into a thin line and looked at him hard. “Go get ready, Wade. And you better think about what you just said. This man is uprooting his life to ensure you and your brothers can keep your land. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never known anyone that kind. Have you?”
No. Definitely not. Properly chagrined, he nodded. “You’re right.”
“Of course I am.”
Wade smiled. She may not be married to his brother yet, but she was already part of the family.
“What?” she asked, obviously not quite ready to let go of the mad.
“Casey’s lucky.”
She blushed and shook her hair. “Right again. Now go get ready. You’ve got maybe ten minutes, tops. Your suit is laid out in Casey’s room. Use his shower—your room is a mess with the move right now. I’ll stall for as long as I can, but you make sure you look and smell good when you come downstairs.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied and watched her turn on her heels and leave the kitchen, mumbling something under her breath—something that sounded suspiciously like “idiot,” but he didn’t have time to dwell. He took the back stairs two at a time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links
Sarah Hadley Brook lives smack-dab in the middle of the Heartland and is the mother of two wonderful young men, as well as two cats. During the day, she works in the non-profit world, but reserves evenings for her hobby-turned-passion of writing, letting the characters she conjures up in her mind take the lead and show her where the story will go. When not working or writing, she can be found reading, working on dollhouses, trying her hand at new recipes, or watching old movies and musicals. In her ideal world, Christmas would come at least twice a year, Rock Hudson and Doris Day would have co-starred in more than three movies, and chocolate would be a daily necessity to live. She dreams of traveling to Scotland some day and visiting the places her ancestors lived. Sarah believes in “Happily Ever After” and strives to ensure her characters find their own happiness in love and life.
Website: www.sarahhadleybrookwrites.com
Email: contact@sarahhadleybrookwrites.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahhadleybrook
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SHadleyBrook/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/SarahHadleyBrook
Instagram: @sarah_hadley_brook_author
QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/?s=sarah+hadley+brook&search_type=book_search
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RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY
Sarah Hadley Brook will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour, and a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn host.
Enter to win a $25 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Thanks for being my guest Sarah. Tell us about you as a person.
I’d describe myself as an introvert, but due to my full time day job, I have to be an extrovert at the office. I suppose that’s true with a lot of people, though—we wear different masks at the office than we do at home.
I’m a mother and a (young!) grandmother. My children are grown and it’s wonderful to see them starting their own journeys as adults. I’m also a huge animal lover and have always had cats and dogs in my life. Right now, I have two cats, Mimi and Tiger, who definitely keep me busy.
I’m a Star Trek Voyager fan, and would choose to be Captain Janeway in another universe! My favorite color is pink, although that changes often. I love learning about ancient civilizations, reading romance, politics, and sci-fi, and I trying new recipes. I bake when I have writer’s block.
If you could hang out with one famous person for one day, who would it be and why?
I’d love to meet Mary McDonnell and spend time getting to know her. She’s not only an amazing actress, but she’s a strong, independent woman that cares about people and stands up for her beliefs.
What’s the story behind your latest book?
The Twisted Oak is a faux marriage, western MM romance that takes place in the fictional town of Ruby, Wyoming. It’s about love and fighting for your family when you’re faced with possibly losing everything.
Wade’s been in love with his brother’s best friend for years, but one stupid incident from his past has kept him from pursuing the man of his dreams. When Lance is thrust into his daily life, they must work together and try to save the ranch.
What is your writing process?
Sometimes I listen to music—anything by Matchbox 20 pumps me up—but when I’m really engrossed in a story, I need quiet. No music, no TV—just the laptop and me. The quiet helps me focus. I tend to write early in the morning before I leave for my day job, usually around 5:00 or 5:30—after I’ve had my caffeine, of course!
Tell us about your main character:
Wade Dwyer loves the land. Other than when he was away at college, he’s lived on the family ranch his whole life. He’s close with his two brothers and wouldn’t dream of leaving, despite having a cold father who spewed hate. The ranch was still his home as long as his brothers were still there.
Wade’s a quiet man and somewhat introverted—people are not really his thing, however Lance definitely is. He’s tried to hold onto his heart for years, but he doesn’t think he can much longer—and he’s pretty sure he doesn’t want to.
If your book was to be turned into a movie, who would play the lead role and why.
Anson Mount! He’s incredible and I loved him in Hell on Wheels. Rugged and sexy and able to play a brooding man. He would be my first pick.
What are you working on next?
I’m actually working on the sequel to The Twisted Oak right now. I loved the town of Ruby and the sequel follows some of the backstories, with a new love story.
What advice do you have for other writers who want to get the word out about their book?
I’ll be honest, I’m still learning about the marketing phase! But contacting review sites, offering ARCs, and utilizing social media as much as possible has helped me tremendously. There are also sites you can offer a free book which can help get your name out in front of people.
What is your favorite book on your shelf right now?
The Secret by Julie Garwood. I’ve read and reread that story so much, I know it by heart. But there’s just something that tugs at me about it. The romance, the history… it’s a beautiful story to get lost in.
Do you have any special/extraordinary talents?
During the fall, I volunteer at the Chiefs games to help raise funds for a local nonprofit. Each morning, I write up a quick little poem for the group to get them pumped. It’s usually only 16-20 lines, but I always try to include the name of the opposing team and it absolutely must rhyme. Think Dr. Suess meets Football. I wouldn’t call it a special talent, but it’s something I like to do and it revs us all up!
You are given the choice of one super power. What super power would you have and why?
FLYING! I would fly! Over the cities, among the clouds, diving down toward the grass and zipping back up again. As a child I had a recurring dream I could fly and the sense of weightlessness, the freedom as I soared, stuck with me.
List 5 things on your bucket list:
- Visit Scotland (and stay in a castle)
- Alaska Cruise
- Learn how to work with stained glass
- Attend a Star Trek Convention
- Take my grandson to Disney World (when he’s older!)
Where can readers find you on the web?
Twitter: @SarahHBrook
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahHadleyBrook
Any final thoughts?
Thanks for having me! Great questions. Readers, drop me a line if you get a chance to read The Twisted Oak and let me know what you think. Contact@sarahhadleybrookwrites.com.
Book Blast – FAR REACHING CONSEQUENCES
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Phoebe needs a second chance at life.
In the aftermath of the devastation from her failed marriage, Phoebe returns to her old stomping grounds to open her own bed and breakfast. Starting over is the bravest thing she’s ever done – or so she thinks. But opening her front door to find a blast from her past on her front porch changes all that. The teenager she’d once known has become a jaw-dropping, dominant man in his prime.
He wasn’t looking for a relationship until she blazed back into his life.
Graham runs his own construction business, remodeling homes, and building brand new ones. When his buddy gives him a lead on a new project, he never expects to run into Phoebe, the woman he shared a single kiss with eons ago. Nor is he prepared for the Dominant in him to stake his claim before the end of their first meeting. He wanted her in high school but there had been too wide a gulf separating them. Now, Graham will stop at nothing until he makes her his. But there are larger forces at work, attempting to tear them apart.
When everything Phoebe holds dear becomes a target, Graham will risk it all for the one woman he knows he can never live without.
Publisher’s Note: This steamy second chance romance contains elements of power exchange. While it is the second in the Crescent City Kings series, it can be enjoyed independently.
Read an Excerpt
She opened the door to the small groundskeeper’s house, which was really nothing more than a glorified pool house. It was four hundred square feet, little more than a studio apartment in size. The only thing enclosed was the tiny bathroom. But she had spruced her home up as best she could, painting the walls a fresh, light powder blue and had put her bed near the window to catch the early morning sunlight.
There was room enough for her couch and a small television, plus the eat in kitchen with her small, pine dinette set. She’d painted the walnut cabinets an eggshell white, giving the place a farmhouse look. Daisy made a beeline toward her water bowl and dog bed up against the far wall.
“This is where you’re living?” Graham studied her place without judgement, his gaze assessing the space.
It might not be much, but it was home and, best of all, hers. “Yep. I don’t need a lot of space or things. Most days I will be over at the main house from sunup until sundown, at least until I can afford to hire help.”
If things worked the way she hoped, she would have a hostess and servers for the dining room. Phoebe already had her eye on a waitress at the nightclub to entice to come work for her. While she was confident in her abilities, it would be a juggling act to cook and serve meals in the dining room at the same time. At first, there was no way around it and she would be forced to manage it somehow. But she hoped this place would be successful enough that a few months after opening, she would have the available budget to hire help.
“Have a seat. Would you like a cup of coffee? And I have some croissants on the table there, just baked them fresh this morning,” she said, rather thrilled to be playing hostess. Phoebe enjoyed cooking and had found early in life that she had a knack for it. But this was a new croissant recipe she was testing out, and she was interested to see Graham’s reaction.
“It’s barely ten.” He smiled as he sat, facing her and the kitchen.
“I tend to be an early riser. Always have been.”
“I’m the same.”
Using one of her good mugs, she served him a steaming cup of coffee, then brought over all the accoutrements on a wooden tray: sugar, cream, and sugar substitute. She noted that he took his coffee black as night, but he slathered the croissant with her homemade jam.
“Mmm, oh my god.” He groaned, and the sound pinged low in her belly. “You made this?” Graham asked, looking at her and then back at the pastry as if he had died and gone to heaven.
“Yep.” She expelled a breath. The new recipe appeared to be a hit. Graham ate the croissant with relish. Pinpricks of satisfaction flowed through Phoebe. She slid into the seat across from him as he put a thumb covered in jam into his mouth and sucked it off.
Her girly bits throbbed at an unexpected blast of desire that struck her system like a thunder bolt. It had been an unconsciously sexy move on his part. It wasn’t like he was attempting to get into her pants. He was here to earn a potential payday, and work. Yet when he glanced her way with sublime satisfaction in his eyes, across the small expanse of her pine dinette table, her insides quivered—and not with fear.
She needed to shut the gate closed and seal it tight. Phoebe didn’t do relationships anymore. That wasn’t in her plans for her life any longer.
No matter how sinful the packaging happened to be.
About the Author:
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Anya grew up listening to Cardinals baseball and reading anything she could get her hands on. She remembers her mother saying if only she would read the right type of books instead binging her way through the romance aisles at the bookstore, she’d have been a doctor. While Anya never did get that doctorate, she graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with an M.A. in History.
Anya is a bestselling and award-winning author published in multiple fiction genres. She also writes urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance under the name Maggie Mae Gallagher. A total geek at her core, when she is not writing, she adores attending the latest comic con or spending time with her family. She currently lives in the Midwest with her two furry felines.
Website: http://www.anyasummers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnyaSummersAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anyabsummers
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15183606.Anya_Summers
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SmLqWm
Anya Summers will be awarding a $25 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Book Blast – HEROES IN LOVE
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
NOT EVERY HERO WEARS A UNIFORM
Can love last a lifetime? Billy Walsh and Daniel Richards never intended to be matchmakers. After all, they’re only at the start of their own love story. When Billy uncovers a failed love affair, he learns it lasted more than fifty years until it fell apart. He and Daniel see their own fledgling relationship through the lens of the now estranged couple, and they vow to reunite the elderly lovers. But as they set about their task, the pressure of modern life threatens to tear them apart.
Read an Excerpt
Billy was nearly an hour late when he finally rushed down Fulham Road and into the entrance of the Royal Marsden hospital where he ran into a black haired, brown-eyed vision of masculinity. Literally ran into. Publicly crashed into a stunning man wearing a white fitted t-shirt, a linen suit, tan loafers, and stood tall like a catwalk model. Too late Billy skidded to a halt, and into the arms of the handsome stranger.
“I’m so sorry,” Billy blurted out.
The vision of masculinity reached forward and grabbed his shoulders to stop him from falling.
“No problem.” The man looked directly at Billy and held on to his shoulders for a moment or so longer than was probably necessary.
Billy wanted to crawl away and hide in a corner. He had never considered himself a cool guy. The roles he played in soap operas as a sensitive-looking young man with an apologetic, hesitant manner were in truth no more than an extension of his own personality. He was uncomfortable in large social gatherings, and preferred his own company.
But this man with wavy black hair, deep brown eyes, and strong arms was someone he would dearly like to spend more time with. Billy struggled to find a witty phrase, a bright piece of banter to rescue the moment.
“Sure.”
Sure? Billy shook his head at the crassness of his response. The man smiled, dropped his arms, and strode off.
Shit.
About the Author: David C Dawson writes contemporary thrillers featuring gay men in love. He’s an award winning author, journalist and documentary maker. His debut novel won Bronze for Best Mystery and Suspense in the FAPA awards, and he has published two books since.
David lives in London with his boyfriend and two cats. In his spare time, he tours Europe and sings with the London Gay Men’s Chorus.
Social Media:
Website: www.davidcdawson.co.uk
Blog: http://blog.davidcdawson.co.uk/#home
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/davidcdawsonwriter/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.c.dawson.5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/david_c_dawson
Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/mrdcdawson/heroes-in-love-influences/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/DavidCDawson
Buy Link:
Boroughs Press: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/heroes-love
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B083QRQ319
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083QRQ319
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B083QRQ319
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B083QRQ319
https://books2read.com/u/3G28pL
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/999639
David C. Dawson will be awarding $10 Boroughs Bucks to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Book Blast – DRAGON MIST
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
As the third daughter of a third daughter, dragon-shifter Christine Drachen must mate with a human.
Not all human males are genetically compatible with dragon shifters, and suitable matches are rare in old Charleston. Christine, though, has identified James to be an appropriate match. Even humans who acknowledge the possibility of dragons cannot believe that one can be both a dragon and a human, shifting between the two. As a result, Christine must attract James without fully revealing her true, shifting nature until he has committed to mate.
James gradually discovers what Christine is. She shows him the gold dragon she always wears around her neck. He notices the prints, statues, and tapestries of dragons that decorate her family’s home. Strange noises emanate from behind the Drachens’ house during a party, and James believes he actually sees a dragon, one wearing a necklace like Christine’s. Christine’s last name, Drachen, means “dragon,” and, while she jokes her entire family is composed of the creatures, James begins to suspect there is more to what she says than a simple attempt at humor.
Finally, though, he sees her shift.
To protect their species from persecution, dragon-shifters silence any human who sees one of them shift, and the most practical method is generally death. The rule is absolute. But Christine has fallen in love with James. How can she protect her family without killing the boy she loves?
Dragon Mist is a story of boy-meets-girl, with a few non-human characters, high stakes, a bit of magic, a little humor, and an abundance of romance.
Read an Excerpt
As Bing struggles for release, I inspect him like an insect under a microscope. Then I growl and I bare my teeth.
“Help me. Help me. Oh God, help me.”
I had never noticed Bing to be particularly religious, but his prayer sounds more sincere than most of those I’d heard intoned in church.
Truly, nothing other than God can save him now because, at this point, my human self has lost control.
Five claws project from each of my hands, two sets of five blades, each as sharp as a diamond saw, able to cut through any substance. I raise my right hand and pause as my eyes make a final pass down his body. Bing’s shriek surely frightens ghosts in the nearby cemetery.
God elects not to intervene, and my right hand sweeps across Bing’s legs, both the right and left splintering as my claw passes through each in turn. My hand falls like a guillotine, twice, and his arms snap off. Finally, not certain he is dead, and not wanting him to linger, I strike the side of his neck, each claw passing through in turn. His body falls to the ground, covering his other parts, and I drop his head on top.
I feel as if I am still standing far out in the Bay, watching as someone else cuts Bing into pieces. His limbs fall to earth, blood covers them and pools on the ground.
I feel as if I’m viewing a horror movie, the type of motion picture that draws teenagers by the score. They stream into the theater and watch monsters, human or otherwise, murder and mayhem, blood and gore. The girls scream and hide their eyes, burying their heads in their boyfriends’ arms, but they peek so they miss none of the action, comforted by the knowledge it is all make-believe.
But Bing’s death is not make-believe, and I find myself a foot away, gazing down at him, my hand covered in his blood.
My head swivels as I check for witnesses. As Bing had died, screams had ricocheted across the park. But no one has appeared. They must lie behind trees and crouch behind shrubs.
What kind of people are these? No one ventured out when I screamed for help. No one rushed to save Bing when he cried in terror. I ought to scour the area and dispatch all of them.
I search, but I find no one…
There.
A single man stands at the payphone under the streetlight at the edge of the park. I take a step in his direction and his squeal breaks the silence. He gestures wildly, pointing toward me, as if the person to whom he speaks can follow his visual directions. He no doubt has called the police, and I must weigh the danger of having my presence reported and the attack described by a group of acid-heads against the time it will take for a search-and-destroy mission and the possibility I will be seen by a surviving, credible witness.
My eyes narrow, I’ll take them all, starting with the one I see. I can cover the distance in five seconds, I think as I take two quick steps.
Then, human rationality reasserts itself.
I need to protect myself, and I opt to allow the witnesses to live, confident their reports will be written off as drug-induced hallucinations.
About the Author:
I live near Charleston, South Carolina, where I walk the beaches, eat fresh seafood, and photograph the ocean, the birds, and the beautiful sunsets. Seven of my nine novels have been set in Charleston, but Dragon Mist is the first to explore the lives of the non-human residents of the “holy city.”
Find more of my work on my website! http://www.burnettsbooks.com/books-by-david.php
Sign up for my newsletter. https://www.subscribepage.com/j4c1o6
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavdBurnett
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidBurnett.Author/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/David-Burnett//e/B0092SDNXM
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6579272.David_Burnett
David will be awarding a dragon pendant similar to the one worn by Christine Drachen in Dragon Mist (US only) to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
Book Blast – RETALIATION
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Sakota saved Astraeus and her friends from certain death, but in doing so, she gained the attention of the Oreck, who will stop at nothing to destroy everything in their path. With their ship severely damaged, Sakota and her crew land on a nearby planet and seek sanctuary while they make repairs to return home. But nothing on this perfect planet is as it appears, and Sakota soon learns they’ve traded one danger for another. Hunted and targeted, will Sakota be able to carry out her mission, or will everyone she cares about be destroyed?
Read an Excerpt
“No .”
Sakota bolted up in bed in the middle of the night.
Her dreams of blood and fear were monopolized with pointed teeth, cartilaginous faces, long, double-jointed arms and legs, and cruel, black alien eyes. The Oreck. They haunted her, perpetual alien God-ghosts with their eerie, electromagnetic glow beneath papery, gray skin.
Beside her, Astraeus slept, his arm flopped over the groove in the bed where she’d lain as he held her. He stirred, frowning. Was he having a nightmare too? She reached her hand out and searched with her emotions, as she’d learned to do.
He tossed, fitful, in the clutches of a nightmare to do with Upsilon’s destruction. She couldn’t remember what her nightmare had been about, but it had ended violently. Peace, she sent silently. Tranquility . Calm . Rest .
Astraeus sighed in his sleep, relaxed, and rolled over. She feathered hair out of his face. His existence had blown her away, and it still did. Astraeus’s genetic code far outstripped her own. He had defense mechanisms in place to protect him from climate extremities that she could never even dream of having. But more so, for the first time in her life, she’d fallen in love. It went against her pragmatic nature, but his comforting presence anchored her amid the wreckage.
She scrubbed her face with her hand in the darkness and swung her legs over the side of the levitating bed, careful of the bed’s height when she stood.
Humans were either a lot shorter than most of the visiting interplanetary delegates, or for some strange reason, they liked their beds high.
Her limbs ached, fatigue from the action of the last several days. She suspected healing from microgravity had something to do with it too, but she’d been through the wringer. The way she walked, the weight of her lips when she spoke, her arm and leg muscles seemed heavier and more visceral, like someone had injected them with a heavy drug. Ridiculous, of course. She was in the best shape of her life.
In the center of the room, she stretched and did some yoga until the tightness lessened. She rotated her neck. In a day or two, the slight dizziness and disoriented inertia would subside. As a physician, she knew the symptoms. She’d be fine. But telling a patient about them versus experiencing them were two different things.
She padded barefoot out onto the balcony, drew a silver cup from the shelves, and dipped it into the fountain. Distant light illuminated the Chuleron buildings along the skyline in the distance. She brought the brim of the cup to her lips and drank. Cool and refreshing, much cleaner than the sterilized water she’d had back on Earth. Tastier too. Earth water had to be purified at least five times before it could be considered healthy enough for consumption. Bacterial pathogens ran rampant in food and the polluted streams and springs back home, so sterilizing was essential. The delightful coolness soothed her throat.
She twisted her hair and pulled it over her right shoulder, taking in the strange, tantalizing city. Did her suspicions about this place come from her subconscious, because of the death and violence she’d experienced? Or was Hisoka right and something seemed off?
About the Author:
Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers, and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.
Website: http://www.haleycavanaghbooks.com
Newsletter: https://haleycavanaghbooks.com/vip-readers-group/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/1769243778
Twitter: https://twitter.com/haley_cavanagh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/haleycavanaghbooks/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ambitioushales/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42207961-astraeus
Buy Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082MB9VPV/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/retaliation-haley-cavanagh/1135488266
iTunes: https://books.apple.com/us/book/retaliation/id1491106031
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/retaliation-20
The author is also running a separate giveaway to celebrate the release of the book Enter here for a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and Autographed Paperback/Swag Bundle (ends January 15).
The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
Spotlight – THE STORMWATCH SERIES (Spotlight on Book 2: Deep Freeze)
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
STORMWATCH series blurb:
The storm sweeps in like a thief in the night… Winter storm Holly is the worst in eighty years bringing high winds, subzero temperatures and snowfall better measured in feet than in inches. The weather paralyzes everything in its path, but in this storm, weather isn’t the only threat.
A new installment of STORMWATCH releases each Thursday starting December 5 through January 9. Each thrilling full length novel is a standalone story with no cliffhangers. Don’t miss a single one from half a dozen of the genre’s bestselling storytellers!
December 5 – Frozen Ground by Debra Webb
December 12 – Deep Freeze by Vicki Hinze
December 19 – Wind Chill by Rita Herron
December 26 – Black Ice by Regan Black
January 2 – Snow Brides by Peggy Webb
January 9 – Snow Blind by Cindy Gerard
Stormwatch series at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YZB1FZR
Emma Miller, a probationary security consultant posing as a reporter, is stranded at Portal International Airport in the worst storm in eighty years. She’s reassigned to protect a top-secret High Containment Lab in the international airport that houses the deadliest bio-contaminate diseases on the planet. A lab under attack by international terrorists who want those pathogens to sell on the black-market.
Dr. Gregory Mason Martin is a bio-containment specialist who runs the top-secret lab, and he knows Emma well. They grew up together, went to school together, and she’s always fascinated him, but she has a long-standing habit of going through men like water, so he’s kept his distance. He doesn’t dare to trust her or her abilities.
Now, all these years later, they must work together to protect the lab and stop the terrorists from obtaining the pathogens. And they must protect the pathogens from Holly, the deadly storm barreling mercilessly toward them. If those pathogens are stolen, the world will be held hostage, and worse, if mishandled, the country could be facing the worst pandemic in history. A pandemic that in short order could wipe out not just cities and states, but the entire nation.
Both are willing to risk their lives. Both are reluctant to risk their hearts. Yet events prove neither of them is who they were thought to be. And a fierce battle against terrorists and the storm proves challenging but no match for the challenges chambered in their human hearts.
Read an Excerpt
Winter Storm Holly bears down on Colorado…
Insight: Emma, an undercover security consultant, has been assigned to protect a High Containment Lab located under Portal International Airport from winter storm Holly and from a potential terrorist attack. A lab run by Dr. Gregory Mason Martin. They grew up together, and Mason wasn’t the one who got away. He was the one Emma never got…and always wanted. He, however, had never wanted her.
*****
Emma saw Mason weaving through the crowd. Her breath hitched and she gave herself a mental shake. He was no longer lanky, instead he was muscular. His face was more angular, and she liked the scruff of beard. It accentuated his high cheekbones and slim nose. Gorgeous, as always. Even as a gangly boy, his face had hinted at the man he’d become. And the fitted blue shirt, cuffs still worn rolled up to just below the elbow, made his eyes appear all the bluer. Her breath threatened to hitch again, but the sudden downturn in his wide mouth into a formidable frown nixed that. He’d spotted her. And he was not pleased.
Mason intercepted her. “Tell me you aren’t here waiting for me.”
He smelled as good as he looked and sounded obnoxiously hopeful. “Hello, Mason.”
“It’s Gregory, as you well know, Emma.” He didn’t look flustered, just irritated. “Are you waiting for me?”
She smiled just to annoy him. “I am.”
“Great.” He shoved a hand into his slacks’ pocket. “I need a security specialist and headquarters sends me a reporter. Batting a thousand today.”
So was she; not that she’d mention it. She needed a battle with him about as much as she needed another close call on her life. “I’m glad to see you again, too.” She sniffed and jutted her chin so he wouldn’t miss it. Everyone else had called him Gregory or Greg. She’d only ever called him Mason, trying to get his attention. It had failed. But she kept up the practice to needle him. Compensation for his rejecting her.
“They honestly did send you?”
They, being his headquarters, of course. “I’m here. No one else is, or can get here,” she said, lifting a hand. “So, do you want me to go or to stay?”
He didn’t answer, but from his darting eyes, she saw the mental debate raging inside him. It annoyed her. “That was a rhetorical question, Mason.” She folded her arms. “I’m staying.”
About the Author:
Vicki Hinze is a USA Today bestselling, award-winning author, who has written nearly forty books and hundreds of articles published in as many as 63 countries. Known widely for innovation, she generally includes strong suspense, action adventure and thriller elements with a dash of romance, penning series that genre-blend and earned her career-achievement awards as a trailblazer. For nearly a decade, she was columnist for the global Social-In Network and, before that, a radio talk-show host for Everyday Woman. Hinze holds an MA in creative writing and a Ph.D. in Philosophy (Theocentric Business and Ethics). Long before being named as the first PRO Mentor by the largest writing organization in the world, she founded Writer’s Zone to mentor other authors and maintains a free online writers’ library. Raised in New Orleans, Hinze then married a career Hurricane Hunter/Special Ops officer. After moving around the country, they settled in Northwest Florida, where she heeds her one writing rule: Writing only books she loves.
Vicki Hinze online
Website: http://vickihinze.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/Vicki.Hinze.Author
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/vicki-hinze
Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickihinze
Exclusively on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YG889PT
The author will award a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter.
VBT – THE PORTAL TO THENITIWAN
This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Over 9,000 years ago, an ancient spiritual energy leaks through a link in time entering Thenitiwan, destroying the barrier between the past and future. The spirit enters a host or Hawopas to block the portals spiritual gravity through carnal energy of a living body to survive.
Over the centuries, a powerful civilization called Sagerowa emerges knowing that history favors the rise and death of great nations throughout time. Sagerowa eventually gained control of the gateway and entered future eras and destroyed them to weaken them and sought to freeze their era in time forever.
Many years later in the midst of the tension of the nation’s most recent war, Joie tries to return home with the assistance of Xuca who escorted her to safety. Xuca however is unable to look after her and be loyal to his goals and let her go as a priority. She soon finds comfort and resolve in a stranger named Keogx from the pain of missing the soldier she felt had her back and unknowingly more parts of her heart.
Read an Excerpt from Book Two:
“Is there something wrong soldier?” asked head to the soldier who just arrived finally.
“No, no. I am fine,” Lahi said.
“Where have you been, soldier?” asked head.
“I was worried about Suyoke. He is still irresponsive,” She said with difficulty.
“Have you seen General Daeli by any chance?” asked the head to Lahi.
“Sir. He left on the mission with Ero. I was going to go with him. But he suggested I stay here to watch Suyoke and be here for the army if they never made it back,” she said.
The head looked at the general who last seen Daeli then at Lahi standing before the court suspiciously.
He then directed his eyes back to Lahi who tried to hide her pain for her fellow soldier Suyoke.
“Lahi, you must have heard at some point that the mission was cancelled right?
“No sir. I wasn’t informed. I was last told it was the mission was official and was excited to go but…” Lahi stated.
“General Daeli didn’t tell you?!” said a council member.
There is a great clamoring throughout the court room. There was random talking and voices of disproval and surprise.
“We have a problem. They could be out there anywhere, by now. In danger or an unauthorized battle with the enemy army, or worst. We will have to send a search team. They couldn’t have gotten far. Unit 1 shall be asked to go. Please take off tonight. Or we might lose them…all,” said the head council member.
The doors swung open a second time and everyone looked in that direction wondering who would enter.
“No need for that head council,” said Captain Rhena.
Everyone stood up and stared at the entrance.
Walking into the court room after her was General Daeli who stated, “Nobody has to go anywhere.” He said with a look of assuredness on his face. We’re back now from the mission. Following them was Ero and then Guesa.
The court was astounded and relieved.
Staring at them surprised for a while, the head council member then said, “Welcome back.”
Rhena smiled and said, “Thanks.”
Rhena said, “I have a message from the other side of this war. The enemy are making their plans to weaken us. They have new strategies. I must inform the army on what we can do. I am prepared to update the S.S. They are ready to bring us down and will if we step into their traps. They’re out there.”
Unit 1 General said, “I am glad they showed up when they did. Because I wasn’t going to budge,” folding his arms looking at Daeli who stared back in opposition and then turned away.
Xuca stood among the rest of the crowd of soldiers celebrating. He looked at Daeli whose eyes met his and then looked away trying to ignore his fixed look of “Told you so.”
“You may report,” said the head to Rhena. “But you four soldiers must recover from the expedition first. For now, this court is dismissed. Returned first thing tomorrow,” he hits the hammer. The members and soldiers stood and gradually exited the door.
Rhena looked at General Daeli and said, “Thanks, for being loyal to your comrades Daeli. You showed me something today. It’s never too late for people to change. People do change,” said Rhena to him.
“Or begin to show their true colors?” Daeli replied sternly then slightly smiled.
Rhena turned to Ero and Guesa, “You must all soon get rest, understand? And I will do the same.
“Yes captain,” the unit said together.
Guesa looked at Xuca who looked back at her for a while. As they looked at each other. He felt guilty for not joining the cause to bring her back. He now knew it was risky but worth it. He looked over at Lahi thinking.
“Guesa,” shouted Lahi who ran towards her and hugged the soldier. “We thought we’d never see you again. I can’t believe you’re ok! It’s been just so long.”
“I’m here now though,” said Guesa.
“Come. I will update you on everything,” said Lahi.
Through the crowd Xuca walked by. “Xuca, I am glad to see you again and that you’re safe. …” said Guesa.
“Same here, thanks,” he continued to walked.
“I heard you were being targeted while gone away. I went after you to help but then I was capture, I am sorry I couldn’t help,” she said.
“No its ok. I was alright,” Xuca said.
The new leader then brushed shoulders with Xuca and said, “Since you are no longer leader. You are just “a” soldier. But don’t worry. I will soon take your given seat as leader. Just watch. I heard it never truly belonged to you anyway.” The leader then walked out the court room along with the rest.
“Ignore it Xuca…he is just talking and nothing more…..right?” said Guesa wondering.
“I have got to go, goodnight,” Said Xuca cutting the conversation short and walked out of the court room.
About the Author: I am Ada Stone and have been writing since high school and interested in societal problems and of course, fiction. The ability to make up a world and share it means a great deal as the real world is what it is.
Book 1 paperback: https://amazon.com/dp/1698876203/ref=sr_1_3
Book 2 Paperback: https://amazon.com/dp/1698877552/ref=sr_1_1
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Ada-M-Stone/e/B07TCK375J/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18939378.Ada_M_Stone
Ada Stone will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
